Competency #9
Answer and Explanation
Use the data below to determine which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shorter wavelength.
| Type | Frequency Range |
|---|---|
| UV radiation | 3 x 1015 to 30 x 1015 Hz |
| IR radiation | 3 x 109 to 30 x 109 Hz |
Answer:
UV light has the shorter wavelength.
Wavelength and frequency for electromagnetic radiation are related by the equation
This relationship says that the larger the frequency the smaller the wavelength. Since 1015 is larger than 109 (by six powers of ten- a million times!) the wavelengths for UV radiation must be smaller than IR radiation.
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