WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Science 10, Quarter 2, Week 2

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Name: ___________________________________________ Section: ____________________

Most Essential Learning Competency

Compare the relative wavelengths of different forms of electromagnetic waves (S10FE-IIa-b-47).

Learning Objectives:
The students should be able to
a. relate the penetrating ability to the different quantities that describes the propagation of
electromagnetic wave;
b. describe the speed of Electromagnetic wave through different materials;
c. recognize the wavebands of radio waves and its corresponding applications; and
d. describe how radio waves are generated, transmitted, and received.

Time allotment:
5 hours

 Penetrating ability of EM radiation

Electromagnetic waves readily penetrate the atmosphere. Even the less energetic radio
waves from outer space reach the surface of the earth. Electromagnetic radiation with shorter
wavelengths penetrates materials most effectively. X-rays have very short wavelengths, so they
can penetrate the soft tissues of the human body. Gamma rays, which have the shortest
wavelengths of all electromagnetic radiation, have even greater penetrating power. It takes
“several centimeters of lead or more than a meter of concrete” to stop them, according to the
Duke University Department of Chemistry.

Different frequencies of EM radiation have different degrees of penetration. For example, if

we take the human body as the object, visible light is reflected off the surface of the human
body, ultra-violet light (from sunlight) damages the skin, but X-rays are able to penetrate the
skin and bone and allow for pictures of the inside of the human body to be taken.

If we compare the energy of visible light to the energy of X-rays, we find that X-rays have a
much higher frequency. Usually, electromagnetic radiations with higher frequency (energy) have
a higher degree of penetration than those with low frequency.

The penetrating capacity of electromagnetic waves can be related to its speed. The actual
speed of an electromagnetic wave through a material or medium is dependent upon the optical
density of that medium. Different materials cause a different amount of delay due to the
absorption and reemission process. Furthermore, different materials have their atoms more
closely packed and thus the amount of distance between atoms is less. These two factors are
dependent upon the nature of the material through which the electromagnetic wave is traveling.
As a result, the speed of an electromagnetic wave is dependent upon the material through which
it is traveling.

 Radio Waves
Radio waves have the longest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are
produced by making electrons vibrate in an antenna. They are used to transmit sound and
picture information over long distances.

Radio waves have a very wide range of wavelengths. The whole region of the radio waves is
divided into smaller regions or wavebands. Each waveband is allocated by law to a specific
radio service. The wavelengths and frequencies of the different wavebands are shown in Table
1.

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 Low frequency waves are suitable for Table 1. Radio waves Frequencies
communication over great distances. But the
curvature of the earth limits the range to about 80
kilometers. To extend the range, a repeater is used.
The repeater receives the signal and re-transmits it
to the receiving station.

High frequency waves can be reflected by

the ionosphere. This enables the waves to be
transmitted over great distances.

Medium and high frequency waves are used

for broadcasting by local radio stations. In a radio
station, sound is converted by a microphone into [Link]
patterns of electric current variations called audio-frequency (AF) signals. High frequency radio
waves called radio-frequency (RF) carriers can be modulated to match the electronic signal. In
amplitude modulation (AM), the amplitude of the radio waves (RF carrier) changes to match that
of the audio-frequency signal. This is used in standard broadcasting because it can be sent over
long distances.

Very high frequency waves provide a higher quality broadcasting including stereo sound.
In this process, instead of the amplitude of the RF carrier, it is the frequency of the waves that
changes to match that of the signal. This is called frequency modulation (FM).

Radio waves lie at the low-frequency end of the electromagnetic

spectrum. They are primarily used in various types of communications
signals. Also of importance is the detection of natural radio sources in
radio and radar astronomy. A few applications are shown at their
approximate positions in the spectrum (on a logarithmic scale).
Microwaves are a subset of the radio spectrum, ranging from about 1 to
1000 mm in wavelength, or a frequency between about 1 and 100 GHz.
The microwave region is used especially in various forms of radar, in
communications with spacecraft and satellites (as in the Global
Positioning System), and in microwave ovens. Amateur communications,
such as CB (citizens' band) and short-wave radio, occur around 10 MHz.
Marine navigation and communications systems operate especially
below 1 MHz. Other devices or systems using radio waves include metal
detectors, loran, and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, radio
waves are also used in Wireless Fidelity (wi-fi) routers and it operates
between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz of frequency.

 Radio: Transmission and Reception of Radio Waves

For the propagation and interception of radio waves, a transmitter and receiver are
employed. A radio wave acts as a carrier of information-bearing signals; the information may be
encoded directly on the wave by periodically interrupting its transmission (as in dot-and-dash
telegraphy) or impressed on it by a process called modulation. The actual information in a
modulated signal is contained in its sidebands, or frequencies added to the carrier wave, rather
than in the carrier wave itself. The two most common types of modulation used in radio are
amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM).

Frequency modulation minimizes noise and provides greater fidelity than amplitude
modulation, which is the older method of broadcasting. Both AM and FM are analog
transmission systems, that is, they process sounds into continuously varying patterns of
electrical signals which resemble sound waves. Digital radio uses a transmission system in
which the signals propagate as discrete voltage pulses, that is, as patterns of numbers; before
transmission, an analog audio signal is converted into a digital signal, which may be transmitted
in the AM or FM frequency range. A digital radio broadcast offers compact-disc-quality reception
and reproduction on the FM band and FM-quality reception and reproduction on the AM band.

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 Receiving antennas intercept part of this radiation, change it back to the form of electrical
signals, and feed it to a receiver. The most efficient and most common circuit for radio-frequency
selection and amplification used in radio receivers is the super heterodyne,
a signal frequency that is created by combining or mixing two other frequencies using a signal
processing technique called heterodyning. In that system, incoming signals are mixed with a
signal from a local oscillator to produce intermediate frequencies (IF) that are equal to the
arithmetical sum and difference of the incoming and local frequencies. One of those frequencies
is applied to an amplifier. Because the IF amplifier operates at a single frequency, namely the
intermediate frequency, it can be built for optimum selectivity and gain. The tuning control on a
radio receiver adjusts the local oscillator frequency. If the incoming signals are above the
threshold of sensitivity of the receiver and if the receiver is tuned to the frequency of the signal,
it will amplify the signal and feed it to circuits that demodulate it, i.e., separate the signal wave
itself from the carrier wave.
.

Activity 1. Can and Can’t Pass Through!

What you need:

Pen and Paper

What to do:
1. Study the seven electromagnetic waves in terms of wavelengths, frequencies and
energies.

2. Fill in the Table 2 by ranking the different electromagnetic waves in terms of its
frequency, wavelength and penetrating capacity (where “1”is the highest).

Visible light Gamma ray Infrared Radio wave

X-ray Ultraviolet ray Microwave

Table 2. Penetrating Capacity of Electromagnetic waves.

Wavelength Frequency Penetrating Capacity

1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3.

4. 4. 4.

5. 5. 5.

6. 6. 6.

7. 7. 7.

Q1. What factor has a direct effect to the penetrating ability of an electromagnetic wave?

Q2. What do you observed to the frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic waves in the
first and last rank?

Q3. How does penetrating ability related to the speed of electromagnetic wave in different
materials?

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Activity 2. Range it up!

What you need:

Pen and paper

What to do:
1. Identify the different applications of radio waves.
2. Fill in the small boxes provided by writing the corresponding band width requirement
for each picture/application.
3. Choose one band width inside the box for each device.

1. 3.

Wifi
Radar
Router

[Link]
s/2020/7/4/wifi_router_pldt_fiber_1593841836_85bf [Link]
e0de [Link]

2.

Cellular
Phone

[Link]
/jargon/c/[Link]

4. 5.

TV FM/AM
Radio

[Link] [Link]
400013/27472342-creative-abstract-communication-media-and- /Sites-shop-pna-master-catalog/default/dw0953f459/product/images/RF-
[Link] 2400_ALT01.jpg?sw=430&sh=334&sm=fit`

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Activity 3. Then there was sound
What you need:
Pen and paper

What to do:
Part 1. Transmitter
1. Complete the diagram for transmitting Radio signals by filling in the blanks.
2. Use the words provided below.
Microphone Modulator
Antenna Oscillator

TRANSMITTER

[Link]
[Link]

[Link] [Link]
Frequency-Oscillator-Model-%E2%80%93-AF-%E2%80%93-712- com/2011/02/[Link]?w=584
[Link]
Part 2. Receiver
1. Complete the diagram for transmitting Radio signals by filling in the blanks.
2. Use the words provided below
Speaker Tuner Amplifier
Antenna Demodulator
RECIEVER

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]/wp-
ges/[Link]
content/uploads/2020/06/[Link]

[Link]
[Link]

[Link]
m/2011/02/[Link]?w=584
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Q7. What do you observe to the parts used in transmitter and receiver?

Reflection:
What would be your way of living today if radio wave doesn’t exist? Write your 5-sentence
answer in a separate sheet of paper.

WRITING RUBRIC
15 – Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, and
has no misconception.
10 – Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, but
with minimal misconception.
5 – Practical application is explained consistent to the concepts, but with
misconceptions.
0 – No discussion

References for learners:

Acosta, Herma D., et al. Science – Grade 10 Learner’s Material First Edition (Pasig City:
REX Book Store Inc.,2015), 142-150.
Gaur, Aakanksha. et. al. Britanica.“Radio Waves.” November 21, 2019. Accessed
November 23, 2020. [Link]
Zeek, Jane. “Electromagnetic Spectrum”. August 15, 2001. Accessed October 26, 2020.
[Link]
Siyavula Technology-Powered Learning. “Penetrating ability of EM radiation.” Accessed
November 2, 2020. [Link]
10/electromagnetic-radiation/11-electromagnetic-radiation
04#:~:text=Usually%2C%20electromagnetic%20radiation%20with%20higher,these
%20are%20called%20ionising%20radiation.
the Physics Classroom. “Propagation of an Electromagnetic Wave.” Accessed November 23,
2020. [Link]
EMF Advice. “How to Block Microwave Radiation.” Accessed November 2, 2020.
[Link]
Sciencing. “Materials That Absorb Infrared Rays.” Accessed November 2, 2020.
[Link]
Citing Infoplease. “Radio: Transmission and Reception of Radio Waves.” February 28,
2017. Accessed November 23, 2020.
[Link]
ansmission-and-reception-of-radio-waves

Answer Key
ACTIVITY No. 1
Wavelength Frequency Penetrating Capacity
1. Radio wave 1. Gamma ray 1. Gamma ray
2. Microwave 2. X-ray 2. X-ray
3. Infrared 3. Ultraviolet ray 3. Ultraviolet ray
4. Visible light 4. Visible light 4. Visible light
5. Ultraviolet ray 5. Infrared 5. Infrared
6. X-ray 6. Microwave 6. Microwave
7. Gamma ray 7. Radio wave 7. Radio wave

Q1. What factor has a direct effect to the penetrating ability of an electromagnetic wave? energy

Q2. What do you observed to the frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic waves in the first and
last rank? Electromagnetic waves with higher penetrating capacity have higher frequency and
shorter wavelength, while electromagnetic waves with least penetrating capacity has lower
frequency and longer wavelength.
Q3. How does penetrating ability related to the speed of electromagnetic in different materials? The
6
actual speed of an electromagnetic wave through a material or medium is dependent upon the
optical density of that medium. Different materials cause a different amount of delay due to the
absorption and reemission process. Thus, penetrating ability of the wave is directly proportional
to its speed.
ACTIVITY No. 2
1. Super High Frequency (SHF) 2. Very High Frequency (VHF) [Link] High Frequency(SFH)
4. Very High Frequency (VHF) 5. Medium and Very High frequency (MF and VHF)
ACTIVITY No. 3

Q7. What do you observe to the parts used in transmitter and

receiver?
Both uses antennas and modulators.

Reflection:
1. What would be your way of living today if radio wave doesn’t exist? Write your 5-sentence answer in
a separate sheet of paper.
If there is no radio wave then we'd have cable TV but no broadcasts. You wouldn't have a mobile
phone and your home computer network would have to be wired. Your BlueTooth speaker
couldn't connect to any device. We would not have AM/FM radio or off-the-air TV or Wi-fi, or
satellite communications, but we could still have telephones, or wired-based communications
and entertainment. Most of wireless communications will be useless. Since there’s no facebook,
no internet connections and most virtual social activities are gone, then people will be more
sociable in real world.