Light & Waves Worksheet
Name: _________________________________________ Date: _____________ Block: ________
1.
Label the Balmer, Paschen, and Lyman Series
Transitions in the following diagram.
2.
Draw a diagram of a wave, labeling the wave
crest, trough, amplitude, and wavelength.
Lyman
Balmer
Paschen
crest
wavelength
amplitude
trough
3.
What is the wavelength of light waves having a frequency of 2.56x1014 sec-1? Can humans see this
light? Explain why or why not.
K:  = 2.56x1014 sec-1
UK: 
c = 
= c/ = 3.00x108 m/s / 2.56 x 1014 sec-1 = 1.17 x 10-6 m (1x109 nm/1 m) = 1170 nm
No, humans cannot see this light because the visible spectrum that humans can
see has wavelengths of 400 nm – 700 nm and this light falls in the region beyond
that range.
4.
What is the frequency of a radio wave with a wavelength of 15 meters?
K: = 15 m
UK: 
c = 
= c/ = 3.00x108 m/s / 15 m = 2.0 x 107 sec-1 or 2.0 x 107 Hz
5.
List the following regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing Energy, from
weakest to strongest:
ANSWER:
a. Ultraviolet
g. Radio Waves
b. Infrared
f. TV waves
c. Visible
d. Microwaves
d. Microwaves
b. Infrared
e. X-rays
c. Visible
f. TV waves
a. Ultraviolet
g. Radio Waves
e. X-rays
6.
a. How are infrared waves different from red light waves? They are lower in energy and have
longer wavelengths and lower frequency
b. How are ultraviolet waves different from violet light waves? They are higher in energy and
have shorter wavelengths and higher frequency
c. In what ways are infrared, red, ultra-violet, and violet light waves alike? They are all types of
electromagnetic radiation
7.
What is the wavelength in nanometers of a radio wave with a frequency of 540,000 Hz.
K:  = 540 000 sec-1
UK: 
c = 
= c/ = 3.00x108 m/s / 540 000 sec-1 = 5.6x102 m (1x109 nm/1 m) = 5.6x1011 nm
Light & Waves Worksheet
Name: _________________________________________ Date: _____________ Block: ________
8.
For each of the following frequencies of visible light, determine the wavelength, and
identify the color of light associated with each frequency.
(Red; 630 nm, Orange; 610 nm, Yellow; 590 nm, Green; 525 nm, Blue; 470 nm, Indigo; 405 nm,
and Violet; 380 nm)
a.
6.4 x 1014 sec-1
b.
5.5 x 1014 sec-1
c.
5.0 x 1014 sec-1
a.  = 470 nm = Indigo
9.
b.  = 550 nm = Blue/Green c.  = 600 nm = Yellow/Green
Use Plank's constant (6.63 x 10-34 J s) to determine the energy which corresponds to the following
frequencies:
a. 4.567 x 1014 hertz
b. 6.165 x 1014 hertz
c. 6.905 x 1014 hertz
a. E = h = (6.63 x 10-34 J s)(4.567 x 1014 s-1) = 3.03 x 10-19 J
b. E = h = (6.63 x 10-34 J s)(6.165 x 1014 s-1) = 4.09 x 10-19 J
c. E = h = (6.63 x 10-34 J s)(6.905 x 1014 s-1) = 4.58 x 10-19 J
10.
The electromagnetic waves used in FM broadcasting by radio or television have frequencies of
approximately 100 megahertz. In standard AM radio broadcasting, the frequency is about 1
megahertz. (Remember mega = 106.) For the popular FM radio station with a frequency of 104.1
MHz, calculate its wavelength () and Energy of that wave.
104.1 MHz(1 x 106 Hz/ 1MHz) = 1.041 x 108 Hz
 = c/ = 3.00 x 108 m/s / 1.041 x 108 s-1 = 2.88 m
E = (6.63 x 10-34 J s)(1.041 x 108 s-1) = 6.90x10-26 J
11.
For each of the following wavelengths, determine the frequency and the corresponding Energy of
one photon of that wave.
a.
2.0 x 10-14 meter
 = 1.5 x 1022 Hz
E = 9.94 x 10-12 J
16
b.
4.0 nanometers
 = 7.5 x 10 Hz
E = 4.97 x 10-17 J
14
c.
600.0 nm
 = 5.00 x 10 Hz
E = 3.31 x 10-19 J