Electromagnetic SpectrumElectromagnetic Spectrum

The colors we see only represent a small The colors we see only represent a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrumportion of the electromagnetic spectrum

In order from the shortest wavelength to the longest In order from the shortest wavelength to the longest wavelength:wavelength:

Gamma Rays: Gamma Rays: Shortest wavelengthShortest wavelengthHigh FrequencyHigh FrequencyHigh EnergyHigh EnergyUsed to kill cancer cellsUsed to kill cancer cells

X Rays: Used to take pictures of bones and X Rays: Used to take pictures of bones and teethteeth

Ultraviolet(UV) Rays: Ultraviolet(UV) Rays: Emitted by sun Emitted by sun Can cause our skin to burnCan cause our skin to burn

Visible Light Waves: Visible Light Waves: The only part of the spectrum that we can The only part of the spectrum that we can

see with our eyessee with our eyesViolet is shortest wavelength Violet is shortest wavelength Red is the longest wavelengthRed is the longest wavelengthThe color we see is being reflected while the The color we see is being reflected while the

other colors are absorbedother colors are absorbed

Infrared Waves: Infrared Waves: Found in lasersFound in lasersBody emits infrared waves, which allows night Body emits infrared waves, which allows night

vision goggles to workvision goggles to work

Microwaves:Microwaves:Cooks your food in minutesCooks your food in minutes

Radio Waves:Radio Waves:Emitted from radio stations and picked up by Emitted from radio stations and picked up by

your antennayour antennaStars and other gases in space emit these Stars and other gases in space emit these

also, so we can see what they are made ofalso, so we can see what they are made of

All electromagnetic waves travel at the All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in empty space: same speed in empty space:

3 X 10 3 X 10 88 m/s m/s (186,000miles/second)(186,000miles/second)