What wavelength are you on? (Chat-Reading Skills).Energy waves are all around you, although the only type humans can see is visible light--as colors from red to violet. But light rays are merely a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum--the entire range of electromagnetic energy See electromagnetic radiation. , from long radio waves Radio waves Electromagnetic energy of the frequency range corresponding to that used in radio communications, usually 10,000 cycles per second to 300 billion cycles per second. to short gamma rays Gamma rays Electromagnetic radiation emitted from excited atomic nuclei as an integral part of the process whereby the nucleus rearranges itself into a state of lower excitation (that is, energy content). . Electromagnetic energy travels through space or matter as waves. Electromagnetic waves See spectrum. Electromagnetic wave A disturbance, produced by the acceleration or oscillation of an electric charge, which has the characteristic time and spatial relations associated with progressive wave motion. are characterized by wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the distance between wave crests. Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point per second. Increasing wavelengths correspond to decreasing frequencies. For example, infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than ultraviolet light Ultraviolet light A portion of the light spectrum not visible to the eye. Two bands of the UV spectrum, UVA and UVB, are used to treat psoriasis and other skin diseases. and, therefore, has a lower frequency. This diagram shows the wavelengths and frequencies of the entire electromagnetic spectrum electromagnetic spectrum Total range of frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The spectrum ranges from waves of long wavelength (low frequency) to those of short wavelength (high frequency); it comprises, in order of increasing frequency (or decreasing . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Directions: Study the electromagnetic-spectrum diagram above to answer the following questions. Use complete sentences. 1. What kind of electromagnetic radiation electromagnetic radiation, energy radiated in the form of a wave as a result of the motion of electric charges. A moving charge gives rise to a magnetic field, and if the motion is changing (accelerated), then the magnetic field varies and in turn produces an has the longest wavelength? 2. Some insects, like bees, can perceive light of shorter wavelengths than humans can see. What kind of radiation do you think a bee sees? 3. Which form(s) of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength less than the size of water molecules? Which has a wavelength larger than a baseball? 4. Visible light has wavelengths about the size of what? What is a source of visible light? 5. What kind of radio waves has a frequency of [10.sup.8] meters/second? WHAT WAVELENGTH ARE YOU ON?, p. TE 6 1. Radio waves have the longest wavelength. 2. Bees might be able to see ultraviolet light. 3. The wavelengths of hard X rays and gamma rays are smaller than water molecules. Radio waves' wavelengths are larger than a baseball. 4. Visible light has wavelengths about the size of bacteria. A light bulb produces visible light. 5. The frequency of FM radio waves is [10.sup.8] m/sec. |
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