Z G07: Sciences Light & Sound: Resources

Many devices you probably use every day are made possible by the electromagnetic spectrum. Some examples of these useful items are radios, cell phones, and microwave ovens. The scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, invite you to visit their colorful, informative web site to uncover the facts about these essential, yet sometimes invisible, waves.

What is light? How far does the electromagnetic spectrum extend past what the human eye can see? Learn about light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation at Fact Monster. Discover the wavelengths that separate into the colors of the spectrum. Study the nature and speed of light. Understand the various historical wave, particle, and electromagnetic theories, as well as the modern understanding of light. Learn the difference between luminous and illuminated, between transparent and translucent, and between reflection and refraction.

Electromagnetic radiation can be described in terms of a stream of photons, which are massless particles each traveling in a wave-like pattern and moving at the speed of light. Radio waves, light, x-rays, and other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are all electromagnetic radiation. This article, Measuring the Electromagnetic Spectrum instructs you about the different types of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum. Definitions are provided for many terms used.

Light is responsible for everything we see. It actually is a nano-thin strand of electromagnetic radiation that travels in waves. Find out why an orange looks orange in color. Discover what a prism does to white light. The visible spectrum makes up only a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. Types of electromagnetic radiation on the spectrum are defined by frequency and wavelength. Radio waves have a very low frequency and high wavelength, while X-rays have a high frequency and...

The electromagnetic spectrum is essential to everyday life. Wireless devises let us make phone calls, turn on the television, pass through tollbooths without stopping, and use laptops without a cord. The electromagnetic spectrum provides radio waves for television and radio. It allows people to remotely control water, gas, and electricity systems. It facilitates medical monitoring, cargo tracking, air traffic control, and emergency services. In the military, the electromagnetic spectrum is needed for weapon guidance and radar. As we become more dependent on these devises, it becomes more difficult to prevent interference between systems.

Explore the electromagnetic spectrum as you learn about radiation, wavelength, and frequency...