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Explanation of Electromagnetic Spectrum by Ron Kurtus - Succeed in Understanding Physics. Also refer to frequency, wavelength, speed of light, electrical charges, lambda, radio, television, radar, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma ray, ROY G BIV, physical science, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Electromagnetic Spectrum
by Ron Kurtus (17 March 2008)
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. It includes x-rays, visible light, microwaves and television waves. The rate of oscillating movement of electrical charges determines the frequency of electromagnetic radiation. A simple equation shows the relationship between frequency and wavelength. The full electromagnetic spectrum shows an enormous range of frequencies. An important part of that range is the visible light spectrum.
Questions you may have include:
- How are electromagnetic waves created?
- What is the spectrum or frequencies and wavelengths?
- What is the visible spectrum?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Useful tools: Metric-English Conversion | Scientific Calculator.
Creation of electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetic waves are created by the acceleration or oscillation of electrical charges, such as the movement of electrons. In AC electricity, electrons move back-and-forth in a wire at a relatively slow rate. In radio and microwave devices, circuitry oscillate the electrons at a much higher rate. Molecules, atoms and free electrons move about rapidly when heated to high temperatures. Also electrons accelerate when jumping from one electron level to another. Finally, collisions of high energy electrons result in the creation of x-rays.
The relationship between frequency of the electromagnetic wave and its wavelength comes from the equation:
c = fλ
where
- c is the speed of light
- f is the frequency of the electromagnetic wave
- λ (Greek letter lambda) is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave
That equation can be written as
f = c/λ
or
λ = c/f
depending on which variable you want to find.
Spectrum of frequencies
The frequency of electromagnetic waves ranges from less than 50 Hz, which to beyond 1019 Hz, where:
- 50 Hz is the AC frequency in many parts of the world (60 Hz in the U.S.)
- 1019 is 1 followed by 19 zeros
The wavelength of electromagnetic waves ranges from over 6000 km to 1 Å (Angstrom).
(See Units of Frequencies and Wavelengths for more information.)
The electromagnetic spectrum can be represented by the following table:
| Application | Approximate frequency range |
Approximate wavelength range |
|---|---|---|
| AC electricity | 50-60 Hz | 6000-5000 km |
| AM radio | 106 Hz | 300 m |
| FM radio and TV | 108 Hz (100 MHz) | 3 m |
| Radar | 1010 Hz | 3 cm |
| Microwaves | 1011 Hz |
3 mm |
| Infrared | 3*1011 - 4*1014 Hz | 1 mm - 700 nm |
| Visible light | 4*1014 - 7.5*1014 Hz | 700 - 400 nm |
| Ultraviolet | 1016 Hz | 400 nm - 10 nm |
| X-rays | 1018 Hz | 10 nm - 0.1 nm |
| Gamma rays | 1019 Hz | 0.03 nm |
Visible spectrum
The colors of the visible spectrum are in the order of the "name" ROY G BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). The illustration below shows the colors of the visible spectrum and their approximate wavelengths.
Visible spectrum with wavelengths
The colors aren't evenly spaced because the bands of each colors varies. For example, the green colors cover a wider area than does indigo, which really could be considered violet.
Summary
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, including x-rays, visible light, microwaves and television waves. The rate of oscillation of electrical charges determines the frequency of the radiation. A simple equation shows the relationship between frequency and wavelength. The full electromagnetic spectrum shows an enormous range of frequencies. An important part of that range is the visible light spectrum.
Science is amazing when you look at it
Resources and references
The following resources provide information on this subject:
Websites
Books
Top-rated
books on Physical Science
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Physics. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum