Physics Electromagnetism

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

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What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

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The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Radiation is the energy that travels and spreads out as it goes.

EMR can be described by frequency, wavelength, or energy. Frequency is the number of waves that pass a point in space each second. Wavelength is the distance between wave crests. Energy is measured in electron volts.

Different Types of Electromagnetic Radiation:
  • Radio waves: Used for communication, broadcasting, and navigation.
  • Microwaves: Used for cooking, communication, and radar.
  • Infrared radiation: Used for thermal imaging, remote controls, and heating.
  • Visible light: The portion of the spectrum that the human eye can detect.
  • Ultraviolet radiation: Can cause sunburns and skin cancer, but is also used for sterilization.
  • X-rays: Used for medical imaging and security scanning.
  • Gamma rays: Used for cancer treatment and sterilization, but can also be harmful.

Electromagnetic radiation travels as waves, and the different types are defined by the amount of energy in the waves. Radio waves have the lowest energy and gamma rays have the highest.

The electromagnetic spectrum is used in a wide variety of applications, including communication, medicine, and astronomy.

Source: NASA Science: Electromagnetic Spectrum

Wrote answer · 3/14/2025
Karma · 40

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