levo

Photons

The electromagnetic spectrum and photon energies

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3

Overview

Recall questions on the range of the visible spectrum and the order of magnitude of the wavelength of each other region, what all the regions have in common, typical photon energies, and why the short-wavelength regions are ionising and the long ones are not.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

List the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing wavelength.

Numbers

Calculate the typical photon energy of visible light of wavelength 500 nm, in electronvolts.

Key term

Give the order of magnitude of the photon energy of an X-ray of wavelength 10⁻¹⁰ m.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Give the approximate wavelength range of the visible spectrum.

    Model answer

    From about 700 nm at the red end to about 400 nm at the violet end.

  2. 2

    List the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing wavelength.

    Model answer

    Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves and radio waves.

  3. 3

    Give the order of magnitude of the wavelength of X-rays.

    Model answer

    About 10⁻¹⁰ m.

  4. 4

    Give the order of magnitude of the wavelength of ultraviolet radiation.

    Model answer

    About 10⁻⁸ m.

  5. 5

    Give the order of magnitude of the wavelength of infrared radiation.

    Model answer

    About 10⁻⁵ m.

  6. 6

    Give the order of magnitude of the wavelength of microwaves.

    Model answer

    About 10⁻² m.

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Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

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