Download The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Name:______________________________ Class:_____
Date:_____/_____/_____
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
An electromagnetic wave consists of what two types of changing fields?
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
What do electromagnetic waves carry (like all waves)? ___________________
What medium do electromagnetic waves travel through? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
The origin of all electromagnetic waves is a ____________________________.
Which travels more quickly: light or sound? _____________
What is evidence of this?______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Which travels more quickly: visible light or microwaves? _____________
How fast do all electromagnetic waves travel (in a vacuum)? ______________________
Approximately how long does it take light from the sun to reach the Earth? ______________
(The sun is around 150 million kilometers Earth!)
Electromagnetic waves are arranged in order of __________________ and
__________________ in what is known as the ____________________________.
The electromagnetic spectrum consists of the
Come up with a creative way to remember
following types of waves (listed from longest
the order of the spectrum:
wavelength/lowest frequency to shortest
wavelength/highest frequency):


R_______________
M_______________

I________________

V_______________

U_______________

X_______________

G_______________

R_______________

M_______________

I________________

V_______________

U_______________

X_______________

G_______________
1. In each of the following pairs, circle the form of radiation with the LONGER
WAVELENGTH:
a. red light or blue light
b. microwaves or radio waves
c. infrared radiation or red light
d. gamma rays or UV radiation
2. In each of the following pairs, circle the form of radiation with the GREATER
FREQUENCY:
a.
b.
c.
d.
yellow light or green light
x-rays or gamma rays
UV radiation or violet light
AM radio waves or FM radio waves
3. In each of the following pairs, circle the form of radiation with the LOWER ENERGY
(energy is directly related to frequency):
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
red light or blue light
microwaves or radio waves
infrared radiation or red light
gamma rays or UV radiation
yellow light or green light
x-rays or gamma rays
UV radiation or violet light
AM radio waves or FM radio waves
Match each description in Column A with the correct term in Column B.
Write the letters of the correct answers in the spaces provided.
Column A
Column B
_______
1. usually given off during nuclear reactions
a. microwaves
_______
2. sometimes used to kill bacteria
b. gamma rays
_______
3. the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the
human eye can see
c. X-rays
d. ultraviolet rays
_______
organs
4. can be used to form images of bones and internal
_______
5. felt as heat
f. the visible spectrum
_______
6. waves with the longest wavelength and lowest
frequency
g. infrared rays
_______
7. range of electromagnetic waves
_______
8. often used for wireless communications and
microwave ovens
e. radio waves
h. electromagnetic
spectrum
Skill Challenge
Skills: interpreting diagrams, inferring
The diagram below shows a model of the electromagnetic spectrum. Use the
diagram to answer the questions.
1. Name three types of electromagnetic waves that have wavelengths longer than that of visible light.
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Which type of wave has the shortest wavelength? ______________________________________
3. Which color in the visible spectrum has the shortest wavelength? __________________________
4.
Which color in the visible spectrum has the longest wavelength?
_________________
_