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Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is so named due to the fact that the electric and magnetic properties of the wave propagate at right angles to one another in a sinusoidal manner at the speed of light. The waves are defined according to the following equation:

c = fλ

where
c is the speed of light
f is the frequency of the radiation, and
λ is the wavelength of the radiation, that is the distance between successive troughs or peaks on the wave.

Electromagnetic spectrum is full range of electromagnetic radiation, including (in order of decreasing energy and increasing wavelength): gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves.

Types of Electromagnetic Radiation by Wavelength

Gamma raysless that 0.1 Angstroms
Rays0.1 to 200 Angstroms
Ultraviolet200 - 4,000 Angstroms
Visible light4,000 - 7,000 Angstroms
Near Infrared7000 Angstroms to 10 microns
Infrared10 microns to 60 microns
Far Infrared60 microns to 300 microns
Sub millimeter300 microns to 1 millimeter
Millimeter radio1 millimeter to 1 centimeter
Microwave radio1 millimeter to several centimeters
 
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Development Notes
Text by M. Alan Kazlev
Initially published on 24 October 2001.

 
 
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