The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Electromagnetic spectrum

the entire distribution of electromagnetic radiation according to frequency or wavelength. Although all electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, they do so at a wide range of frequencies, wavelengths, and photon energies. https://www.britannica.com/science/electromagnetic-spectrum is the distribution of electromagnetic radiation according to energy (or equivalently, by virtue of the relations in the previous section, according to frequency or wavelength). http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~blackman/ast104/spectrum.html https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/z79hvcw/revision/2

X-Rays

As the wavelengths of light decrease, they increase in energy. X-rays have smaller wavelengths and therefore higher energy than ultraviolet waves. We usually talk about X-rays in terms of their energy rather than wavelength. This is partially because X-rays have very small wavelengths. It is also because X-ray light tends to act more like a particle than a wave. When the Sun shines on us at a certain angle, our shadow is projected onto the ground. Similarly, when X-ray light shines on us, it goes through our skin, but allows shadows of our bones to be projected onto and captured by film. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/xrays.html

How can electromagnetic waves be described?

By energy, wavelength and frequency

The hotter the radiating body, the shorter the wavelength of maximum radiation

Example: Sun emits mostly short waves->Visible Light Earth emits mostly long waves->Infrared Radiation

List the types of radiation in order from the shortest wavelength to the longest wavelength

Gamma Rays X-Rays Ultraviolet Visible Light Infrared Microwaves Radio https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/waves3.html https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-physics/chapter/the-electromagnetic-spectrum/

Which type of radiation as the most energy?

Gamma rays

Gamma Ray

Gamma-rays have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any other wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves are generated by radioactive atoms and in nuclear explosions. Gamma-rays can kill living cells, a fact which medicine uses to its advantage, using gamma-rays to kill cancerous cells. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/gamma.html

Which waves of light are more dangerous?

High energy, short wavelength, and high frequency

Infrared Radiation

Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet. "Near infrared" light is closest in wavelength to visible light and "far infrared" is closer to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The longer, far infrared wavelengths are about the size of a pin head and the shorter, near infrared ones are the size of cells, or are microscopic. Shorter, near infrared waves are not hot at all - in fact, you cannot even feel them. These shorter wavelengths are the ones used by your TV's remote control. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/infrared.html

Which waves of light are less dangerous?

Low energy, short wavelength, and low frequency

Microwaves

Microwaves are good for transmitting information from one place to another because microwave energy can penetrate haze, light rain and snow, clouds, and smoke. Microwaves have wavelengths that can be measured in centimeters! The longer microwaves, those closer to a foot in length, are the waves which heat our food in a microwave oven. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/micro.html

How are all wavelengths of light different?

They have different frequencies

How are all wavelengths of light the same?

They travel at the same speed (the speed of light) About 300,000km

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Though these waves are invisible to the human eye, some insects, like bumblebees, can see them! Our Sun emits light at all the different wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, but it is ultraviolet waves that are responsible for causing our sunburns. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/uv.html

Visible Light

Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves we can see. We see these waves as the colors of the rainbow. Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the shortest wavelength. When all the waves are seen together, they make white light. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/visible.html

Visible light can also be called what? Which wavelength of visible light has more energy and is bent more when passing through a prism?

White light Violet

Radio Waves

have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves can be longer than a football field or as short as a football. Radio waves do more than just bring music to your radio. They also carry signals for your television and cellular phones. https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/radio.html