Electromagnetic and Transverse Waves

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

​ The Electromagnetic Spectrum is the complete range of frequencies of EM waves ordered from the lowest to the highest.

The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength and vice versa.

​

What is the EM Spectrum?

EM waves are made by electric charges vibrating. They are transverse waves. EM waves can travel through space because they do not require a medium to travel. The greater the frequency of the wave, the shorter the wavelength.

What are EM waves?

​Wavelength

​​Radio Waves

​​Micro-

waves

​​Infrared Light

• lowest frequency

• longest wavelength

• wavelength is about 1-10 cm

• lowest amount of energy

​​Visible Light

Ultraviolet Light

X-Rays

Gamma Rays

• between radio waves and infrared light.

• shorter wavelength and higher frequency than radio waves

• "infra" means below

• Infrared light waves are just below visible light

• third longest wavelength and third smallest frequency

• Range of EM waves that can be detected by your eyes

• The colors are ROYGBIV.

• Violet is the shortest wavelength

• Red is the longest wavelength

• "ultra" means above

• frequency is slightly higher than visible light

• third shortest wavelength

• shortest wavelength and highest frequency

• highest temperature

• highest amount of energy

• second shortest wavelength

• pass through soft tissues, absorbed by dense materials

• second highest frequency

Multiple Choice

Which EM wave would have the greatest amount of energy?

• Gamma Rays

• X-Rays

• Radiowaves

• UV Light

Multiple Choice

What does "infra" mean?

• above

• below

• through

• toward

Multiple Choice

Which EM wave has the highest temperature?

• Infrared Light

• Gamma Rays

• UV Light

• X-Rays

Multiple Choice

What is the correct order of the EM spectrum from highest to lowest frequency?

• Radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, UV light, x-rays, gamma rays

• Gamma Rays, x-rays, UV light, visible light, infrared light, microwaves, radio waves

• UV Light, x-rays, gamma rays, visible light, infrared light, microwaves, radio waves

• Gamma rays, radio waves, x-rays, microwaves, UV light, infrared light, visible light

Multiple Choice

How are frequency and wavelength related?

• Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional

• Wavelength and frequency are directly proportional

• Wavelength and frequency are not related.

• As wavelength increase, frequency increases.