Chris
"What property determines the nature of the electromagnetic waves of X-rays, microwaves, and television?"
"What property" is a single answer: they are related to each other mathmetically.
For chemistry & physics: electromagnetic waves are determined by wavelength, energy and frequency. The correct terminology for an x-ray is energy. Wavelength is for microwave and frequency is a radio wave. The electromagnetic spectrum includes from longest wavelength to shortest: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma-rays.
Radio waves, microwaves, x-rays, and visible light are electromagnetic waves of energy. They are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and each has a different range of wavelengths that cause the waves to effect matter differently. The electromagnetic waves have amplitude, wavelength, velocity and frequency. The creation and detection of the wave depends on the range of wavelengths.
Characteristics of ectromagnetic waves are transverse as opposed to the compression waves of sound. All waves have amplitude, wavelength, velocity and frequency.
The amplitude of electromagnetic waves relates to its intensity or brightness. With visible light the brightness is usually measured in lumens. With other wavelengths the intensity of the radiation is power per unit area or watts per square meter. The square of the amplitude of a wave is the intensity.
The wavelengths of electromagnetic waves go from extremely long to extremely short and everything in between. The wavelengths determine how matter responds to the electromagnetic wave and those characteristics determine the name given to that particular group of wavelengths.
The velocity of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is approximately 300,000 kilometers per second -- the same as the speed of light. When these waves pass through matter they slow down according to their wavelength.
The frequency of any waveform equals the velocity divided by the wavelength. The units of measurement are in cycles per second or Hertz.
When electrons move they create a magnetic field so electrons move back and forth or oscillate. Their electric and magnetic fields change together forming an electromagnetic wave. This oscillation can come from atoms being heated and moving or from alternating current electricity.
The opposite effect occurs when an electromagnetic wave hits matter. . . it could cause atoms to vibrate creating heat or it can cause electrons to oscillate depending on the wavelength of the radiation.
Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from all matter with a temperature above absolute zero. Temperature is the measure of the average energy of vibrating atoms and that vibration causes them to give off electromagnetic radiation. As the temperature increases, more radiation and shorter wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation are emitted.
Microwaves, radio, and television waves are emitted from electronic devices. Sparks and alternating current cause vibrations at the appropriate frequencies.
Visible light is emitted from matter hotter than about 700 degrees Celsius -- both incandescent and infrared radiation.
Smashing high-energy electrons into other particles create X-rays.
Gamma rays are emitted from nuclear reactions, atomic bombs, and explosions on the sun and other stars.
There are a number of different types of detectors for electromagnetic radiation. Common ones for detecting visible light: the eye, camera film and the detectors on some calculators. Skin can also detect both visible light and infrared heat rays.
Electronic devices are necessary to detect most of the longer waves and special film detects shorter wavelengths such as X-rays.
Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel at the speed of light. The waves are formed by heat, electronics, and nuclear forces.
Perhaps this will help answer your question ~
hs
