In today’s world, radio frequency is used in so many different ways but a lot of people know very little about things like these. Before we look at some modern day radio frequency applications, it is important to know what radio frequency (RF) is and get an idea about how does radio frequency work. The units for measuring radio frequency are called Hz or hertz. Radio frequency usually refers to the oscillation rate of an electric current or voltage, or of an electromagnetic field or mechanical system. The range includes the set of frequencies of the electromagnetic framework from 20 Hz to 300 GHz, and it is worth noting that 1 hertz (Hz) equals 1 cycle per second.
In simpler words, this range is roughly between the lower limit of infrared frequencies and the upper limit of audio frequencies. The range can be divided into sub-ranges, or bands, and are given labels such as low frequency, medium frequency and high frequency so that it is easy to identify. Moreover, it is worth noting that radio frequencies are not visible to the human eye, which is why most people are not aware of applications of radio frequency around us. We will not look at some of the recent technologies and applications that make use of radio frequencies.
Table of Contents
Food Processing and Safety
Radio frequencies have made their way to the food industry, as you may know it plays a part in heating, as a thermal processing technology. Radio frequencies can also offer some unique advantages over traditional methods of industrial drying and food thawing, however, because of its complex heating mechanism there is more research required before it can be used for food safety applications. There are many applications that use radio frequencies which have fully developed by now, such as microwave ovens. For a better understanding of how radio frequency heating works; heat is produced within the food items because of molecular friction which results from oscillating molecules and ions. Whether we realize it or not, radio frequencies play an important role when it comes to food processing.
Communications
Radio frequencies (RF) are used in many different types of communication devices. These devices include computers, mobile phones, televisions, transmitters and receivers. Moreover, RF is also used in carrier currency systems, such as control circuits and telephony.
Wires have become history and in the modern world there are many wireless radio frequency applications that are used everyday. Wireless communication devices such as cell phones use radio frequencies. Radio frequencies play a vital role when it comes to the new 5G technology, radio waves allow wireless 5G-enabled devices to connect to telephone and internet networks. Additionally, satellite communication systems, TV broadcast stations, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and two-way radios all work with the help of radio frequencies.
Medical applications
Radio frequency is used in medical applications in the form of electrical currents and radio waves. Today these applications include treatment of cancer, hyperthermy, diathermy, and even electrosurgery scalpels that can be used to cut and cauterize during surgeries. Most people have heard about MRI, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, but most people are not aware that MRI uses radio frequency waves in order to generate images of the organs and structures inside our bodies.
Moreover, radio frequencies at non-ablation energy levels are used in aesthetic treatments, which have become very common in recent years. These treatments can include fat reduction, skin tightening and processes of healing.
Some other radio frequency applications include vehicle monitoring, remote control, wireless home security systems, digital audio or video transmission. To conclude, it is true that radio frequencies have many uses in the modern world and most people make use of radio frequency applications everyday, even when they do not realize that.
About Carson Derrow
