Electromagnetic Spectrum

The colors we see only represent a small
portion of the electromagnetic spectrum

In order from the shortest wavelength to the
longest wavelength:

Gamma Rays:
Shortest wavelength
 High Frequency
 High Energy
 Used to kill cancer cells


X Rays: Used to take pictures of bones and
teeth

Ultraviolet(UV) Rays:
Emitted by sun
 Can cause our skin to burn


Visible Light Waves:
The only part of the spectrum that we can
see with our eyes
 Violet is shortest wavelength
 Red is the longest wavelength
 The color we see is being reflected while the
other colors are absorbed


Infrared Waves:
Found in lasers
 Body emits infrared waves, which allows night
vision goggles to work


Microwaves:

Cooks your food in minutes

Radio Waves:
Emitted from radio stations and picked up by
your antenna
 Stars and other gases in space emit these
also, so we can see what they are made of


All electromagnetic waves travel at the
same speed in empty space:
3 X 10 8 m/s
(186,000miles/second)