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Signal Sleuths: Uncovering Radio Frequency Interference

Categories of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Image courtesy of petrroudny on istock

In this section, you'll learn about how the different types of Electromagnetic energy are used. The list is arranged so that as you go down, the wavelengths get longer, the frequencies get lower, and the energy gets weaker.

Gamma Rays
  • • Cancer treatment
  • • PET scans (helps doctors to see organs and tissues)
  • • Radiation detection
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Image courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko on pexels

X-Rays
  • • Medical scans
  • • Security at airports
  • • Studying materials’ properties
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Image courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko on pexels

Ultraviolet Energy
  • • Sterilizing surfaces
  • • Purifying water and air
  • • Detection of fluids such as blood and pet urine
  • • Helping plants grow
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Image courtesy of HarrietP on pixabay

Visible Light
  • • Artificial lighting
  • • Cameras
  • • Sight
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Image courtesy of pixabay

Infrared Radiation
  • • Thermal imaging
  • • Remote controls
  • • Detecting blood flow problems
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Image courtesy of songpon on pixabay

Microwave
  • • Cooking food
  • • Weather forecasting
  • • Wi-Fi
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Image courtesy of jeanvdmeulen on pixabay

Radio
  • • FM radio
  • • TV broadcasts
  • • Radio astronomy
radio telescope

Image courtesy of NSF/NRAO/AUI/Bettymaya Foott

This work is funded through NSF Award # 2232159

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