Visible light is just a small part of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
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Windows to the Universe original artwork.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Light is a form of electromagnetic
radiation that is very familiar to us.
However, there are several other forms of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, such
as X-rays, radio waves, and ultraviolet and infrared "light". Together, these
different types of EM radiation make up the electromagnetic spectrum.
Each section of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum has characteristic energy
levels, wavelengths,
and frequencies associated with its photons.
Gamma rays have the highest energies, the shortest wavelengths, and the highest
frequencies.
Radio waves, on the other hand, have the lowest energies, longest wavelengths,
and lowest frequencies of any type of EM radiation. In order from highest to
lowest energy, the sections of the EM spectrum are named: gamma
rays, X-rays,
ultraviolet radiation, visible
light, infrared
radiation, and radio
waves. Microwaves (like the ones used in microwave ovens) are a subsection
of the radio wave section of the EM spectrum.
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