The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum consists of the full range of known electromagnetic waves, including gamma
rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, microwaves, and radio waves. All of these are produced
by various forms of oscillating charges or currents. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves which travel
at the speed of light and involve oscillating electric and magnetic fields at right angles to each other.
Gamma Rays
Gamma rays are the most energetic known form of electromagnetic radiation, with frequencies of 3*10 19 Hz (30
EHz) or higher and wavelengths of 10-11 m (10 pm) or lower. They are produced from the decay of excited
nuclei of radioactive elements. Gamma rays can penetrate through several centimeters of lead and large doses
of them are harmful.
X-rays
X-rays have frequencies ranging from 3*1016 to 3*1019 Hz (30 PHz to 30 EHz) and wavelengths from 10-11 m to
10-8 m (10 pm to 10 nm). X-rays penetrate easily through some materials such as fat and muscle but not others
such as bone, which makes them useful in medicine. Medical X-rays are produced by colliding high-energy
electrons into a metal target, usually tungsten.
Ultraviolet Light
Ultraviolet (UV) light is light with higher frequency (lower wavelength) than visible light. UV light has frequencies
ranging from 8*1014 to 3*1016 Hz (800 THz to 30 PHz) and wavelengths from 10-8 m to 3.8*10-7 m (10 nm to 380
nm). Prolonged exposure to UV light causes sunburn and can cause skin cancer. The earth's ozone layer
absorbs most of the incoming UV light from the sun.
Visible Light
By definition, visible light is light we can see. Visible light has frequencies ranging from 4*10 14 Hz to 8*1014 Hz
(400 THz to 800 THz) and wavelengths from 3.8*10-7 m to 7.5*10-7 m (380 nm to 750 nm). Red light has the
lowest frequency (longest wavelength) and violet light has the highest frequency (shortest wavelength) of
visible light. White light is composed of the colors of the rainbow, each of which has a unique frequency or
wavelength, as can be seen by diffracting white light through a prism.
Infrared Light
Infrared (IR) light is light with lower frequency (higher wavelength) than visible light. IR light has frequencies
ranging from 3*1011to 4*1014 Hz (300 GHz to 400 THz) and wavelengths from 7.5*10 -7 m to 10-3 m (750 nm to 1
mm). Infrared light is emitted from all objects at or near room temperature in the form of blackbody radiation.
Microwaves
Microwaves have frequencies ranging from 3*109 to 3*1011 Hz (3 GHz to 300 GHz) and wavelengths from 103
m to 10-1 m (1 mm to 100 mm). Excitations from microwaves cause many molecules such as water to oscillate
and heat up, which is how microwave ovens work. The primordial big bang radiation discovered by Penzias
and Wilson in 1965 is in the microwave region.
Radio Waves
Radio waves have frequencies ranging from 3*101 to 3*109 Hz (30 Hz to 3 GHz) and wavelengths from 10-1 m
to 107 m (100 mm to 10,000 km). Radio waves are produced from the alternating current of an LC circuit. Radio
waves carry information through modulation. Radio, television, cell phones, and remote controls all use radio
waves.