The wavelength of electromagnetic waves varies widely across the electromagnetic spectrum, decreasing as you move from one end of the spectrum to the other:
- Radio Waves: Have the longest wavelengths, ranging from thousands of meters to about 1 millimeter.
- Microwaves: Wavelengths range from 1 millimeter to 1 meter.
- Infrared (IR): Wavelengths range from 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter.
- Visible Light: Wavelengths range from about 400 to 700 nanometers.
- Red light has the longest wavelength (~700 nm), and violet light has the shortest (~400 nm).
- Ultraviolet (UV): Wavelengths range from 10 to 400 nanometers.
- X-Rays: Wavelengths range from 0.01 to 10 nanometers.
- Gamma Rays: Have the shortest wavelengths, less than 0.01 nanometers.
Key Point:
As you go from radio waves to gamma rays, the wavelength decreases, while both frequency and energy increase.