Lesson 7 of 8 · Waves

Experiment⭐ 30 XP

The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Its Risks

🧪Lab Brief #7

The Electromagnetic Spectrum and Its Risks.

🎯 Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

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Mind = Blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

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Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

What You'll Learn

All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum but differ enormously in frequency. Above visible light the photons carry enough energy to ionise atoms, which is why ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays damage cells while radio waves do not.

Key Words

Tap a word to see its definition.

Materials Needed

long paper
ruler
coloured pens

Safety First

Have an adult check your set-up before you start, and tidy everything away afterwards.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.

Step 2 — Do

Build an ordered chart of the seven bands with one use and one hazard each. Then place five household devices on it and state which side of the ionising boundary each falls.

Step 3 — Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 — Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 2

Which is ionising?

How sure are you going to be?😐 maybe

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Where you see this in real life

This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

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Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

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For the dinner table

“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

🌱Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

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