Question

characteristics of the electromagnetic spectrum
derived from: https://floridastudents.org/previewresource/studentresource/166539
essential question: how are portions of the electromagnetic spectrum different?
practice 1: select all that apply.

1. which of the following statements are true?

a. long wave radiation has high energy
b. short wave radiation has high energy
c. the energy of a photon is related to its wavelength and frequency
d. the electromagnetic spectrum includes visible radiation
e. photons are particles, but not waves
practice 2: select all true statements.

1. which of the following statements about the electromagnetic spectrum are true?

a. the electromagnetic spectrum is composed of many different wavelengths
b. the light we see is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
c. the sun emits electromagnetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum
d. all objects emit radiation found in the electromagnetic spectrum
e. the electromagnetic spectrum does not include visible light wavelengths

Explanation:

• Practice 1:
• For option A: Long - wave radiation has low energy. The energy of a photon is given by \(E = h

u=\frac{hc}{\lambda}\) (where \(h\) is Planck's constant, \(c\) is the speed of light, \(
u\) is frequency and \(\lambda\) is wavelength). Since for long - wave radiation \(\lambda\) is large, \(E\) is small.

• For option B: Short - wave radiation has high energy. Using \(E=\frac{hc}{\lambda}\), when \(\lambda\) is small (short - wave), \(E\) is large.
• For option C: The formula \(E = h

u=\frac{hc}{\lambda}\) shows that the energy of a photon is related to its wavelength (\(\lambda\)) and frequency (\(
u\)).

• For option D: The electromagnetic spectrum includes visible radiation (in the range of approximately \(400 - 700\) nm).
• For option E: Photons have a wave - particle duality. They exhibit both wave - like (e.g., interference, diffraction) and particle - like (e.g., in the photoelectric effect) properties.
• Practice 2:
• For option A: The electromagnetic spectrum ranges from radio waves (long wavelength) to gamma rays (short wavelength), so it is composed of many different wavelengths.
• For option B: Visible light (a part of what we see) is in the range of \(400 - 700\) nm, which is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• For option C: The Sun emits a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared.
• For option D: According to the Stefan - Boltzmann law (\(P=\sigma AT^{4}\), where \(P\) is power, \(\sigma\) is the Stefan - Boltzmann constant, \(A\) is the surface area and \(T\) is the temperature), all objects with a temperature above absolute zero (\(T>0\) K) emit radiation, and this radiation lies within the electromagnetic spectrum.
• For option E: The electromagnetic spectrum does include visible light wavelengths (as mentioned above).

Answer:

• Practice 1: B. Short wave radiation has high energy, C. The energy of a photon is related to its wavelength and frequency, D. The electromagnetic spectrum includes visible radiation
• Practice 2: A. The electromagnetic spectrum is composed of many different wavelengths, B. The light we see is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, C. The Sun emits electromagnetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum, D. All objects emit radiation found in the electromagnetic spectrum