Chapter 5, Problem 1E

What distinguishes one type of electromagnetic radiation from another? What are the main categories (or bands) of the electromagnetic spectrum?

To determine

The factor that distinguishes one type of electromagnetic radiation from another.

The main categories of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

An electromagnetic spectrum is a range of different electromagnetic radiations having different frequencies and energy. The frequencies range from less than 1 Hz to as high as more than ${10}^{25}$ Hz.

One type of electromagnetic radiation differs from another radiation in terms of frequency, wavelength and energy. Each radiation has unique frequency. The energy of a radiation depends on the frequency. Frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength.

The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into different bands depending on the certain range of frequencies or wavelengths and have different names. These bands and frequency range are:

Gamma rays $\left(>3\times {10}^{17}\text{Hz}\right)$

X-rays $\left({\text{3×10}}^{\text{16}}\text{Hz}\text{to}{\text{3×10}}^{\text{17}}\text{Hz}\right)$

Ultraviolet $\left(7.5\times {10}^{14}\text{Hz to 3}\times {10}^{16}\text{Hz}\right)$

Visible light $\left(4.3\times {10}^{14}\text{Hz to 7}\text{.5}\times {\text{10}}^{14}\text{Hz}\right)$

Infrared $\left({\text{3×10}}^{\text{12}}\text{Hz}\text{to}\text{4}{\text{.3×10}}^{\text{14}}\text{Hz}\right)$

Microwave $\left(3\times {10}^9\text{Hz}\text{to 3}\times {\text{10}}^{12}\text{ Hz}\right)$

Radio waves $\left(<3\times {10}^9\text{Hz}\right)$