Why does electromagnetic energy only pass through certain hole sizes?

[ChrisAndre]

I have noticed in faraday cages and in microwaves that the holes in the screen manage to prevent certain frequencies from passing through them. Why it is that this happens?

 

[JaredJames]

I don't believe it's the frequency, but the wavelength. The shorter the wavelength the smaller the hole (or gap) needs to be to be effective at shielding.

When you get to something like an x-ray or gamma ray you need an extremely dense material to shield from them as the wavelength is so small.

At least that's the impression I have of the subject. Perhaps someone who works in the area can confirm it.

 

[ChrisAndre]

I'm pretty sure that it is wavelength, because I've heard talk about Faraday cages and other such electromagnetic barriers, and I've heard "lambda/10 for good shielding."

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Phyisab****]

You guys do realize that $$c=\lambda\nu$$ right?

 

[sardar]

Electromagnetic energy, also known as electromagnetic radiation, consists of waves of electric and magnetic fields that are able to travel through space. These waves can have different frequencies, which determine the type of electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

When electromagnetic energy encounters a barrier, such as a hole in a screen, it can either pass through or be blocked depending on the size of the hole. This is because the size of the hole determines the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation that can pass through it.

Electromagnetic radiation with shorter wavelengths, such as X-rays and gamma rays, have higher frequencies and are able to pass through smaller holes. On the other hand, electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelengths, such as radio waves and microwaves, have lower frequencies and require larger holes to pass through.

In faraday cages, which are designed to block electromagnetic radiation, the holes in the screen are smaller than the wavelength of the radiation being blocked. This prevents the wave from passing through and effectively blocks the radiation.

In microwaves, the holes in the screen are specifically designed to be just the right size to allow the microwaves to pass through and heat up the food inside. If the holes were too small, the microwaves would be blocked and the food would not be heated.

In summary, the size of the hole determines the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that can pass through it. This is why certain hole sizes are able to block or allow specific frequencies of electromagnetic energy to pass through.