Understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Ever wonder why ultraviolet light can give you a sunburn but visible light doesn't? The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum organizes all types of light waves based on their properties. All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum 3.00×108m/s, but they have different frequencies and wavelengths.
Different frequencies correspond to different colors and types of electromagnetic radiation. For example, a wave with a frequency of 5.10 × 10¹⁴ Hz appears yellow to our eyes. Waves with frequencies too low (like radio waves) or too high (like ultraviolet) can't be seen by humans, but they're still part of the same family of waves.
The different portions of the spectrum include radio waves (longest wavelength), microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays (shortest wavelength). Each type has unique applications and properties. For instance, FM radio broadcasts use waves with frequencies around 9.15 × 10⁷ Hz, which corresponds to a wavelength of about 3.28 meters.
Energy Connection: The higher the frequency of an electromagnetic wave, the more energy it carries. This explains why ultraviolet light can damage your skin while visible light doesn't!