Frequency and penetrating power

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between the penetrating power of electromagnetic (EM) waves and their frequency, exploring both theoretical and conceptual aspects of this relationship.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that longer wavelengths penetrate further, suggesting it is a fundamental property of waves.
  • Others challenge this by stating that higher frequency waves, such as X-rays, are known for their high penetrating power, leading to confusion about the relationship.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the correctness of the claim that higher frequencies correlate with higher penetration power, indicating a lack of understanding of the underlying reasons.
  • A participant introduces the concept of particle-wave duality, explaining that at lower frequencies, EM waves behave primarily as waves and interact with free electrons, leading to phenomena like the skin effect, where penetration depth is inversely proportional to frequency.
  • In contrast, at very high frequencies, the particle nature of EM waves becomes significant, with photons interacting with matter according to quantum physics, suggesting that higher frequency waves can penetrate further due to their increased energy and momentum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express conflicting views on the relationship between frequency and penetrating power, with no consensus reached on the correctness of the claims made regarding longer wavelengths versus higher frequencies.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the topic, including the influence of frequency on penetration depth and the role of wave-particle duality, but do not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions that may affect their arguments.

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How are penetrating power of a EM wave and its frequency related?
 
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What have you done to find the answer to this? And what part didn't you understand?
 
ElmorshedyDr said:
How are penetrating power of a EM wave and its frequency related?

Longer wavelengths penetrate further; it is a fundamental property of waves.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
What have you done to find the answer to this? And what part didn't you understand?
I know that waves of higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths have higher penetration power, I know the fact but I don't know the reason, I'm not even sure whether the fact is right or wrong
 
Last edited:
UltrafastPED said:
Longer wavelengths penetrate further; it is a fundamental property of waves.
Then why it always said that high frequency waves have high penetrating power just as x rays ??
Can you please explain how EM waves' wavelengths governs its absorption, reflection and penetration ??
 
UltrafastPED said:
Longer wavelengths penetrate further; it is a fundamental property of waves.

I'm pretty sure high-energy EM radiation doesn't follow this property.
 
There is the particle-wave duality.

At lower frequencies (say no more than afew Ghz) the EM-wave acts mainly as wave according to Maxwell's equations , interacts mainly with the free electrons of the matter and a well known phenomenon knows as skin effect arises where the EM-wave's electric field and the induced current density exist mainly in a very thin layer near the surface of the conductor. The depth of this thin layer is inversely proportional to the frequency of the EM wave.

At very high frequencies (afew hundred Ghz and further into the Thz realm) the particle nature of the EM-wave becomes predominant and the particles of the EM-wave known as photons interact in general with all the particles of the matter according to the laws of quantum physics. The higher the frequency of the EM wave, the more energy and momentum the photons have , thus the further into the material they can penetrate.
 

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