Comparing Wavelengths – Radio to Gamma

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This diagram compares the wavelength of four electromagnetic waves and arranges them according to their position within the electromagnetic spectrum.

  • Radio waves are shown at the top. They have the longest wavelength of the four types. These waves are shown as dull red. They are invisible to the human eye.
  • Red has the longest wavelength of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Violet has the shortest wavelength of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Gamma rays are shown at the bottom. They have the shortest wavelength of the four types. These waves are shown as a dull violet. They are invisible to the human eye.
  • The unit of measurement of wavelength is the metre.
  • When the wavelength of electromagnetic waves is very short, metres are sub-divided into micrometres, nanometres and picometres.
  • When the wavelength of electromagnetic waves is long, metres are converted into kilometres.
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Description

Comparing Wavelengths - Radio to Gamma

TRY SOME QUICK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO GET STARTED
What units are used to measure the wavelength of radio waves?
Millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres are all used to measure the wavelengths of radio waves.
What type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelengths?
Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths of any type of radiation within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Which has the longest wavelength, red or violet light waves?
Red has the longest wavelength whilst violet has the shortest.
Name two colours with the shortest wavelengths?
Blue and violet are two of the colours in the visible spectrum with the shortest wavelengths.
What is meant by the wavelength of a wave?
The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is a measurement of the length of a single oscillation of the wave.

About the diagram

About the diagram
  • This diagram compares the wavelength of four electromagnetic waves and arranges them according to their position within the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Radio waves are shown at the top. They have the longest wavelength of the four types. These waves are shown as dull red. They are invisible to the human eye.
  • Red has the longest wavelength of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Violet has the shortest wavelength of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Gamma rays are shown at the bottom. They have the shortest wavelength of the four types. These waves are shown as a dull violet. They are invisible to the human eye.
  • The unit of measurement of wavelength is the metre.
  • When the wavelength of electromagnetic waves is very short, metres are sub-divided into micrometres, nanometres and picometres.
  • When the wavelength of electromagnetic waves is long, metres are converted into kilometres.
Remember that:
  • The position of an electromagnetic wave within the electromagnetic spectrum is determined by its wavelength (or frequency).
  • The electromagnetic spectrum includes, in order of decreasing wavelength and increasing frequency: radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays.
  • The electromagnetic spectrum includes, in order of the increasing size of wavelength and decreasing frequency: gamma rays, X-rays,  ultraviolet radiation, visible light,  infrared radiation, microwaves and radio waves.
  • The electromagnetic spectrum includes all possible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, ranging from low energy radio waves through visible light to high energy gamma rays.

Some key terms

Wavelength

Wavelength is the distance from any point on a wave to the corresponding point on the next wave. This measurement is taken along the middle line of the wave.

  • While wavelength can be measured from any point on a wave, it is often simplest to measure from the peak of one wave to the peak of the next, or from the bottom of one trough to the bottom of the next, ensuring the measurement covers a whole wave cycle.
  • The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is usually given in metres.
  • The wavelength of visible light is typically measured in nanometres, with 1,000,000,000 nanometres making up a metre.
  • Each type of electromagnetic radiation – such as radio waves, visible light, and gamma waves – corresponds to a specific range of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Electromagnetic wave

An electromagnetic wave carries electromagnetic radiation.

  • An electromagnetic wave is formed as electromagnetic radiation propagates from a light source, travels through space and encounters different materials.
  • Electromagnetic waves can be imagined as synchronised oscillations of electric and magnetic fields that propagate at the speed of light in a vacuum.
  • Electromagnetic waves are similar to other types of waves in so far as they can be measured in terms of wavelength, frequency and amplitude.
  • We can feel electromagnetic waves release their energy when sunlight warms our skin.
  • Remember that electromagnetic radiation can be described either as an oscillating wave or as a stream of particles, called photons, which also travel in a wave-like pattern.
  • The notion of waves is often used to describe phenomena such as refraction or reflection whilst the particle analogy is used when dealing with phenomena such as diffraction and interference.

 

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Electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum includes electromagnetic waves with all possible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, ranging from low-energy radio waves through visible light to high-energy gamma rays.

  • There are no precisely defined boundaries between the bands of electromagnetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • The electromagnetic spectrum includes, in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength: radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays.
  • Visible light is only a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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