The Electromagnetic Spectrum
X-rays
Gamma Rays
Infrared Radiation
Ultraviolet Light
Visible Light
Radio Waves
Frequency: 7.5 x10¹⁴ - 3 x10¹⁶ Hz
Frequency: 3x10¹⁶ - 3x10¹⁷ Hz
Frequency: 4.3x10¹⁴ - 7.5x10¹⁴ Hz
Frequency: 3x10¹² - 4.3x10¹⁴ Hz
Frequency: <3x10⁹
Frequency: > 3x10¹⁷ Hz
Wavelength: >100,000,000
Wavelength: <1nm (about the size of an atomic nucleus)
Wavelength: 10nm - 400nm
Wavelength: 1nm - 10nm
Wavelength: 400nm - 700nm
Wavelength: 700nm - 100,000nm
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Energy Level: Low
Energy Level: High
Energy Level: Medium
Energy Level: Medium
Energy Level: Medium
Energy Level: Medium
Common Uses: radio and TV communication
Common Uses: radiotherapy, sterilization and disinfection
Common Uses: Used in medical and forensic photography, air purification, disinfectant, medical therapy and to detect fake bank notes
Common Uses: treating cancer and medical/industrial imaging
Common Uses: Sight and laser pointers
Common Uses: Used in TV controls and for security purposes (detecting body heat)
Danger: At high intensities can cause internal heating of living tissue resulting in potentially harmful effects
Danger: Extremely penetrating and damaging to living tissues and cells
Danger: Highly ionizing (can damage cells), people should keep metals or lead between themselves and x-rays and limit exposure (e.g. by operating the machine remotely)
Danger: Highly ionizing (can damage cells), people should keep metals or lead between themselves and x-rays and limit exposure (e.g. by operating the machine remotely)
Danger: Intense light can cause temporary/permanent blindness and can cause burns when concentrated
Danger: Can cause serious skin burns (sun burn) if emitted from sources of high intensity
Microwaves
Danger: Because humans are largely made up of water, exposure to microwaves can be dangerous. However. microwaves have protective measures: the microwave oven is built as a metal box so the microwave radiation cannot penetrate the box, the front window is also made of a grill, which the microwaves cannot penetrate because they have a high wavelength and the microwave's power is shut off as soon as the door opens.
Common Uses: Used for satellite communication (transmitting signals), transmitting signals from a phone mast to a mobile phone and used in heating up food (waves are absorbed by water, heating the water in the progress)
Energy Level: Medium
Speed through a Vacuum: 300,000,000 meters per second
Wavelength: 100,000nm - 100,000,000nm
Frequency: 3x10⁹ - 3x10¹²