The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Introduction
Light is just part of a continuum of waves called the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum includes many types of wave that you will recognise including X-rays and infra-red.
The electromagnetic spectrum is normally given in order of decreasing wavelength or increasing frequency . A summary of the spectrum showing the wavelength and frequency is as follows:
Properties, Dangers and Uses
The properties dangers and applications of the varies waves on the em spectrum are in the table below.
| Wave | Uses | Dangers |
|---|---|---|
| Radio Waves | None | |
| Microwaves | Internal heating of body tissue | |
| Infra-red | Burns skin | |
| Light | Strong light causes damage to vision. | |
| Ultra-violet | Skin cancer and blindness | |
| X rays | Taking images of the skeleton | Mutations in cells and severe burns to the skin. |
| Gamma Rays | Cancers and cell mutation |