Revise: Electromagnetic spectrumThe electromagnetic spectrum

Waves in the electromagnetic spectrum can all travel through a vacuum at the speed of light. The wide range of frequencies and wavelengths of different waves have a variety of uses.

Part ofPhysicsRevision guides: Waves

The electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum consists of a group of radiations that all travel at the speed of light (\(3\times 10^{8},m\,s^{-1}\)).

In the middle of the EM spectrum is the visible spectrum consisting of a range of different colours of light:

  • Red
  • Orange
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Indigo
  • Violet

There are many other parts of the EM spectrum that we cannot see.

The diagram below illustrates these parts.

Chart showing types of electromagnetic waves from radio to gamma rays, comparing wavelength and frequency.
Figure caption,
Chart showing types of electromagnetic waves