Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum: Seven Types of Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum
The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum encompasses the range of possible EM wave frequencies. EM waves are made up of photons that
travel through space until interacting with matter, at which point some waves are absorbed and others are reflected; though EM waves
are classified as seven different forms, they are actually all manifestations of the same phenomenon. The type of EM waves emitted by
an object depends on the object's temperature.
Seven Types of Electromagnetic Waves

Name Wavelength Frequency (Hz) Photon energy (eV)
Gamma ray less than 0.02 nm more than 15 EHz more than 62.1 keV
X-ray 0.01 nm – 10 nm 30 EHz – 30 PHz 124 keV – 124 eV
Ultraviolet 10 nm – 400 nm 30 PHz – 750 THz 124 eV – 3 eV
Visible 390 nm – 750 nm 770 THz – 400 THz 3.2 eV – 1.7 eV
Infrared 750 nm – 1 mm 400 THz – 300 GHz 1.7 eV – 1.24 meV
Microwave 1 mm – 1 meter 300 GHz – 300 MHz 1.24 meV – 1.24 µeV
Radio 1 m – 100,000 km 300 MHz – 3 Hz 1.24 meV – 12.4 feV
Radio Waves
Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio
waves have frequencies from 3 Hz - 300 MHz and corresponding wavelengths ranging from 100,000 km- 1 m. Like all other electromagnetic
waves, they travel at the speed of light. Naturally occurring radio waves are made by lightning, or by astronomical objects. Artificially
generated radio waves are used for fixed and mobile radio communication, broadcasting, radar and other navigation systems,
communications satellites, computer networks and innumerable other applications. Different frequencies of radio waves have different
propagation characteristics in the Earth's atmosphere; long waves may cover a part of the Earth very consistently, shorter waves can reflect off
the ionosphere and travel around the world, and much shorter wavelengths bend or reflect very little and travel on a line of sight.
Radio waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. [3][4] When passing through an object, they are slowed according to that
object's permeability and permittivity. The distance a radio wave travels in one second, in a vacuum, is 299,792,458 meters (983,571,056 ft)
which is the wavelength of a 1 hertz radio signal. A 1 megahertz radio signal has a wavelength of 299.8 meters (984 ft).
Microwaves
Microwaves are the second-lowest frequency waves in the EM spectrum. Whereas radio waves can be up to a mile in length, microwaves measure
from a few centimeters up to a foot. Due to their higher frequency, microwaves can carry information through obstacles that interfere with radio
waves such as clouds, smoke and rain. Microwaves are used for radar, landline phone calls and the transmission of computer data. Microwave
remnants of the "Big Bang" radiate from all directions throughout the universe.
Micro waves have frequencies from 300 MHz – 3000 GHz and corresponding wavelengths ranging from 1m- 1mm.
Table of ITU Radio Bands
Band Symbols Frequency Range Wavelength EXAMPLE USES

Number Range
1 ELF 3Hz to 30 Hz 100000-10000 km
2 SLF 30Hz to 300 Hz 10000-1000 km
3 ELF 300 Hz to 3000 Hz 1000-100 km
4 VLF 3 KHz to 30 kHz 10 to 100 km Navigation, time signals, submarine communication, wireless
5 LF 30 KHz to 300 kHz 1 to 10 km AM long wave broadcasting
6 MF 300 to 3000 kHz 100 to 1000 m AM (medium-wave) broadcasts
7 HF 3 MHz to 30 MHz 10 to 100 m Shortwave broadcasts, citizens' band radio,
8 VHF 30MHz to 300 MHz 1 to 10 m FM, television broadcasts, weather radio
9 UHF 300 MHz to 3000 MHz 10 to 100 cm Television broadcasts, microwave ovens, Bluetooth
Radio astronomy, most modern radars, communications

10 SHF 3 to 30 GHz 1 to 10 cm
satellites, satellite television broadcasting, DBS,
11 EHF 30 to 300 GHz 1 to 10 mm Radio astronomy, high-frequency microwave radio relay,
Infrared Waves
Infrared waves are in the lower-middle range of frequencies in the EM spectrum, between microwaves and visible light. The size of infrared waves
ranges from a few millimeters down to microscopic lengths. The longer-wavelength infrared waves produce heat and include radiation emitted by
fire, the sun and other heat-producing objects; shorter-wavelength infrared rays do not produce much heat and are used in remote controls and
imaging technologies.
Visible Light Rays

Visible light waves are radiation that you can see with your naked eye. The different frequencies of visible light are experienced by people as the
colors of the rainbow. The frequencies move from the lower wavelengths, detected as reds, up to the higher visible wavelengths, detected as violet
hues. The most noticeable natural source of visible light is, of course, the sun. Objects are perceived as different colors based on which
wavelengths of light an object absorbs and which it reflects.
Ultraviolet Waves
Ultraviolet waves have even shorter wavelengths than visible light. UV waves are the cause of sunburn and can cause cancer in living organisms.
High-temperature processes emit UV rays; these can be detected throughout the universe from every star in the sky. Detecting UV waves assists
astronomers, for example, in learning about the structure of galaxies.
X-ray Waves
X-rays are extremely high-energy waves with wavelengths between 0.03 and 3 nanometers -- not much longer than an atom. X-rays are emitted by
sources producing very high temperatures like the sun's corona, which is much hotter than the surface of the sun. Natural sources of x-rays include
enormously energetic cosmic phenomena such as pulsars, supernovae and black holes. X-rays are commonly used in imaging technology to view
bone structures within the body.
Gamma Rays
Gamma waves are the highest-frequency EM waves, and are emitted by only the most energetic cosmic objects such pulsars, neutron stars,
supernova and black holes. Terrestrial sources include lightning, nuclear explosions and radioactive decay. Gamma wave wavelengths are
measured on the subatomic level and can actually pass through the empty space within an atom. Gamma rays can destroy living cells; fortunately,
the Earth's atmosphere absorbs any gamma rays that reach the planet.

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Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum

Seven Types of Electromagnetic Waves

X-ray 0.01 nm – 10 nm 30 EHz – 30 PHz 124 keV – 124 eV

Ultraviolet 10 nm – 400 nm 30 PHz – 750 THz 124 eV – 3 eV

Visible 390 nm – 750 nm 770 THz – 400 THz 3.2 eV – 1.7 eV

Infrared 750 nm – 1 mm 400 THz – 300 GHz 1.7 eV – 1.24 meV

Microwave 1 mm – 1 meter 300 GHz – 300 MHz 1.24 meV – 1.24 µeV

Radio 1 m – 100,000 km 300 MHz – 3 Hz 1.24 meV – 12.4 feV

Table of ITU Radio Bands

Band Symbols Frequency Range Wavelength EXAMPLE USES

1 ELF 3Hz to 30 Hz 100000-10000 km

2 SLF 30Hz to 300 Hz 10000-1000 km

3 ELF 300 Hz to 3000 Hz 1000-100 km

4 VLF 3 KHz to 30 kHz 10 to 100 km Navigation, time signals, submarine communication, wireless

5 LF 30 KHz to 300 kHz 1 to 10 km AM long wave broadcasting

6 MF 300 to 3000 kHz 100 to 1000 m AM (medium-wave) broadcasts

7 HF 3 MHz to 30 MHz 10 to 100 m Shortwave broadcasts, citizens' band radio,

8 VHF 30MHz to 300 MHz 1 to 10 m FM, television broadcasts, weather radio

9 UHF 300 MHz to 3000 MHz 10 to 100 cm Television broadcasts, microwave ovens, Bluetooth

Radio astronomy, most modern radars, communications

11 EHF 30 to 300 GHz 1 to 10 mm Radio astronomy, high-frequency microwave radio relay,

Visible Light Rays

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