The Electromagnetic Spectrum By Sapphire Vasquez
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of wavelengths over which electromagnetic radiation extends.
So, what's on the electromagnetic spectrum?
The electromagnetic spectrum is mad up of 7 different categories which are: gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves.
Gamma Rays
Gamma rays are penetrating electromagnetic radiation of a kind arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei.
The gamma rays have the highest energy and are the shortest wavelength.
Gamma rays are used for medical treatments such as killing cancer cells and sterilizing of medical equipment.
Wavelength is usually less than 0.01nm
Frequency is usually more than 10EHz
X-ray
X-rays are an energetic forms of electromagnetic radiation used to take images of the human body.
X-rays have the second highest energy.
Used typically to photograph the bones in a person for medical purposes.
Wavelength is usually from 0.01nm to 10nm
Frequency is usually from 30EHz to 30PHz
Ultraviolet light
Ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation comes from the sun and is invisible to the eye.
They are the third highest energy.
Ultraviolet light is used for black lights and tanning bed lights.
Wavelength is usually from 10nm to 400nm
Frequency is usually from 30PHz to 790THz
Visible light
Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is generally defined as the wavelengths that are visible to most human eyes.
Is medium in energy terms.
Visible light has a wavelength scale as well going from shortest to longest it goes: Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.
These are all the colors processed by the brain in correspondence to the sun light passing through things and our eyes.
Wavelength is usually from 390nm to 750m
Frequency is usually from 790THz to 405THz
Infrared Light
Infrared is a wavelength that is greater that that of red on the visible light spectrum but less than that of microwave. Unusual emits by heat.
Infrared has the third lowest energy.
Infrared lights are usually used for heating tables to keep food warm.
Wavelength is usually from 750nm to 1mm
Frequency is usually from 405 THz to 300GHz
Microwaves
Microwaves are an electromagnetic wave that is shorter than a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared radiation.
Microwaves have the second lowest energy.
Microwaves are used in radars, communications, and for heating.
Wavelength is usually from 1mm to 1meter
Frequency is unusually from 300GHz to 300MHz
Radio waves
Radio waves are an electromagnetic waves used for long-distance communications.
Radio waves have the lowest energy.
Radio waves are used for radio signal such as FM and AM.
Wavelength is usually from 1mm to km
Frequency is usually from 300GHz to 3Hz
I didn't know how often we use the electromagnetic spectrum and how much we use radiation. Some of them are helpful and some of them are very much needed.