Electromagnetic Spectrum [ENDORSED]

[RichardValdez1L]

Are we expected to know the electromagnetic spectrum come test time ? like where one series starts and another ends ?

[Ismail 1F]

I think we should know the ranges of each spectrum, such as the differences between visible and UV light, but I don't think we need to know the exact numbers for each color of visible light.

[victoriatanaka1C]

Does anyone have any tips for remembering the ranges? I know the order of energy for parts of the electromagnetic spectrum but I'm having a hard time learning the ranges of wavelength!

[Ignacio Ramirez 1J]

It is important to be familiarized with the spectrum and their ranges, it is important to know which has the highest and lowest intensity and be able to explain how they work with wavelength and frequency.

[arina_m 1A]

I also had a question regarding this, If we find a certain wavelength or frequency will we be expected to identify the wave or even the color of visible light who's wave corresponds with this wavelength and frequency without access to some sort of chart which can help us find the right answer? (I only ask because there were similar problems early on in the homework)

[Surya Palavali 1D]

My TA told me not to worry about memorizing the electromagnetic spectrum. I would just focus on remembering the relationships between energy, frequency, and wavelength.

[vivianndo_1L]

To help memorize the electromagnetic spectrum I generally start from the middle of the spectrum.

Visible light ranges from ~400nm to ~700nm. Because waves at 400nm emit VIOLET light, waves a bit below that number are ultraVIOLET. Then, because waves at 700nm emit RED light, waves a bit above that number are infraRED.

That's generally how I remember most of the spectrum. For the x-ray/y-ray, I think about it in alphabetical order; they're the last two (besides cosmic rays) at the "bottom" of the spectrum (in my head the spectrum starts at the largest value and goes downward to the smallest values) and also have the smallest units.

[Chem_Mod]

You should have a general idea of the spectrum in the sense of the order, but you do not need to know cutoffs. You can use the trick from above!