Electromagnetic Radiation / Electromagnetic Spectrum
Created | Updated Feb 23, 2005
Electromagnetic radiation is all around us. But you may not be aware that for example light, radio waves and X rays are all the same thing - Electromagnetic radiation.
The waves in the electromagnetic spectrum are all self
propagating.1 They all travel at the speed of light, c=3*108
m/s. Their frequency and wavelength is related in the following way:
f=c where f is the frequency and is the wavelength.
Visible light is a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which humans have evolved to percieve as colour.2 The full spectrum (from
lowest to highest wavelength) is Gamma Rays, X rays, Ultraviolet (UV), Visible,
Infrared (IR), microwaves and radiowaves. The wavelength range is from Gamma
rays at around = 1*10-9m
to Radio waves with a wavelength of 1 or 2 kilometres.
It is important to note that there is no intrinsic difference
between any of the different sorts of electromagnetic radiation.
them.2The spectrum of visible light can be seen in the rainbow.