EM Spectrum

The number of waves that pass a given point every second

• Frequency

• Wavelength

• Energy

• Electromagnetic Spectrum

As wavelength increases: frequency,_____________ and energy ______________.

• Increases; decrease

• Increases; increases

• Decreases; decreases

• Decrease; increases

Based on the picture, which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the LOWEST energy?

• microwave

• ultraviolet

• infrared

• x-rays

Which of the following best explains why ultraviolet rays can cause sunburn but visible light from a light bulb does not damage skin?

• Ultraviolet rays come before the light rays in the electromagnetic spectrum, which means anything before visible light automatically causes cancer.

• Ultraviolet rays have lower frequencies than visible light rays and thus have higher energy than light rays from a light bulb.

• Ultraviolet rays have higher frequency than visible light rays and thus have more energy than light rays from a light bulb.

• Ultraviolet rays have higher frequencies than visible light rays and thus have less energy than light rays from a light bulb.

On the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves are found on the end of the spectrum considered to possess a low amount of energy. Which statement most accurately describes the wavelength/frequency relationship present in radio waves?

• Radio waves possess both low frequencies and small wavelengths.

• Radio waves possess both high frequencies and large wavelengths.

• Radio waves possess high frequencies and small wavelengths.

• Radio waves possess low frequencies and large wavelengths.

Describe the waves the arrow is pointing at.

• long wavelength / low energy

• long wavelength / high energy

• short wavelength / low energy

• short wavelength / high energy

Describe the waves the arrow is pointing at.

• long wavelength / low energy

• long wavelength / high energy

• short wavelength / low energy

• short wavelength / high energy

How much of the electromagnetic spectrum is made up of visible light?

• only a small portion

• a very large portion

• about half

When comparing infrared waves to X-rays, what relationships would you expect to see in terms of wavelength, energy, frequency, and why?

• Because of their inverse relationship, infrared waves will have longer wavelengths with lower frequencies than that of X-rays.

• Wavelength and frequency are directly related, so infrared waves will have longer wavelengths with higher frequencies than that of X-rays.

• Wavelength and frequency are inversely related, so infrared waves will have longer wavelengths with higher frequencies than that of X-rays. Their energies will be the same.

• Wavelength and frequency are directly related, so infrared waves will have longer wavelengths with lower frequencies than that of X-rays. Their energies will be the same.

The visible light that we can see travels in waves. Blue light has a wavelength of 450 nm and orange light has a wavelength of 600 nm. Based on this information, what is true about the energies of blue and orange light?

• Energy of blue light will be higher than that of orange light.

• Energy of blue light will be lower than that of orange light.

• Energy of blue light and orange light will be the same.

• Wavelengths of light and energy of light are independent of each other.