Types of Electromagnetic Radiation Flashcards
What have scientists divided electromagnetic radiation into?
A spectrum
This refers to the electromagnetic spectrum which categorizes different types of electromagnetic waves.
How are electromagnetic waves arranged on the electromagnetic spectrum?
According to wavelength and frequency
Waves with longer wavelengths have lower frequencies, while waves with shorter wavelengths have higher frequencies.
List the types of waves included in the electromagnetic spectrum from longest to shortest wavelength.
- Radio
- Microwave
- Infrared
- Visible light
- Ultraviolet
- X-rays
- Gamma rays
This arrangement is based on the wavelength of each type of electromagnetic radiation.
What type of waves has the longest wavelength, lowest frequency, and lowest energy on the electromagnetic spectrum?
Radio waves
Radio waves are the first type of waves on the electromagnetic spectrum.
What type of waves has the shortest wavelength, highest frequency, and highest energy on the electromagnetic spectrum?
Gamma rays
Gamma rays are the last type of waves on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Where does visible light lie in the electromagnetic spectrum?
Between radio waves and gamma rays
Visible light constitutes a small portion of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
What is true about the speed of all types of electromagnetic radiation?
They travel at the speed of light
Despite differing in frequency, all electromagnetic waves propagate energy through space at the same speed.
Fill in the blank: The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see is called the _______.
Visible spectrum
This portion is specifically what is perceivable by the human eye.
What is the wavelength range for Gamma Rays?
About 10^-12 m
Gamma Rays have very short wavelengths, which allows them to penetrate Earth’s atmosphere.
Which type of radiation has wavelengths around 10^-10 m?
X-ray
X-rays are commonly used in medical imaging due to their ability to penetrate soft tissues.
What is the wavelength range for Ultraviolet radiation?
About 10^-8 m
Ultraviolet radiation is known for its effects on skin health and is emitted by the sun.
What is the wavelength range for Visible light?
About 10^-7 m
Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.
What is the wavelength range for Infrared radiation?
About 10^-5 m
Infrared radiation is often associated with heat and is used in various technologies, including remote controls.
What is the wavelength range for Microwaves?
About 10^-1 m
Microwaves are commonly used in communication technologies and cooking appliances.
What is the wavelength range for Radio waves?
About 10^3 m
Radio waves are used for broadcasting and communication over long distances.
True or False: Short wavelengths correspond to high energy.
True
Short wavelengths are associated with higher frequencies and greater energy levels.
True or False: Long wavelengths correspond to low energy.
True
Long wavelengths have lower frequencies, which results in lower energy.
Fill in the blank: Gamma Rays are about the size of _______.
Atomic Nuclei
This size comparison highlights the small scale of Gamma Rays.
Fill in the blank: The wavelength of X-rays is about _______.
10^-10 m
This measurement indicates the short wavelength of X-rays.
Fill in the blank: The size comparison for Radio waves is similar to _______.
Buildings
This indicates that Radio waves have much longer wavelengths compared to other types of radiation.
