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Electromagnetic Spectrum Explorer - Online Wavelengths

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Electromagnetic Spectrum Explorer

Explore all seven bands of the electromagnetic spectrum — from radio waves to gamma rays. Click any segment to learn about wavelength, frequency, energy, and real-world applications.

📻 Radio
📡 Micro
🔴 IR
🌈 Visible
🟣 UV
🩻 X-ray
☢️ Gamma
← Longer λ (lower f) Wavelength decreases → Shorter λ (higher f) →
🌈

Visible Light

The only part of the EM spectrum visible to the human eye

λ: 380 – 700 nm f: 430 – 790 THz E: 1.77 – 3.26 eV
Human Vision Photography Optical Fiber Rainbows Photosynthesis
Primary natural source: The Sun, stars, fire, bioluminescence
Wavelength ↔ Frequency Converter

Enter a value to convert between wavelength and frequency. c = λ × f (c ≈ 299,792,458 m/s)

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All EM Spectrum Bands
📻 Radio Waves
λ > 1 m f < 300 MHz
📡 Microwaves
λ: 1 mm – 1 m f: 300 MHz – 300 GHz
🔴 Infrared
λ: 700 nm – 1 mm f: 300 GHz – 430 THz
🌈 Visible Light
λ: 380 – 700 nm f: 430 – 790 THz
🟣 Ultraviolet
λ: 10 – 380 nm f: 790 THz – 30 PHz
🩻 X-rays
λ: 0.01 – 10 nm f: 30 PHz – 30 EHz
☢️ Gamma Rays
λ < 0.01 nm f > 30 EHz
Band Wavelength Range Frequency Range Energy (eV) Size Analogy Key Application
📻 Radio > 1 m < 300 MHz < 1.24×10⁻⁶ eV Skyscraper / Football field Broadcasting, MRI, Radio Astronomy
📡 Microwave 1 mm – 1 m 300 MHz – 300 GHz 1.24×10⁻⁶ – 1.24×10⁻³ eV Butterfly / Bee WiFi, Radar, Microwave Ovens, GPS
🔴 Infrared 700 nm – 1 mm 300 GHz – 430 THz 1.24×10⁻³ – 1.77 eV Needle tip / Human hair Thermal Imaging, Remote Controls, Night Vision
🌈 Visible 380 – 700 nm 430 – 790 THz 1.77 – 3.26 eV Bacterium / Virus Human Vision, Photography, Optical Fiber
🟣 Ultraviolet 10 – 380 nm 790 THz – 30 PHz 3.26 – 124 eV Virus / Large molecule Sterilization, Sunscreen, UV Astronomy
🩻 X-ray 0.01 – 10 nm 30 PHz – 30 EHz 124 eV – 124 keV Atom / Small molecule Medical Imaging, Security Scanning, Crystallography
☢️ Gamma < 0.01 nm > 30 EHz > 124 keV Atomic nucleus Cancer Therapy, Sterilization, Gamma-ray Astronomy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the entire range of electromagnetic radiation, organized by wavelength, frequency, and photon energy. It spans from extremely long radio waves (wavelengths of kilometers) to extremely short gamma rays (wavelengths smaller than an atomic nucleus). All EM waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum (≈ 299,792,458 m/s) and differ only in their wavelength and frequency. The spectrum is traditionally divided into seven named bands: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
What are the 7 types of electromagnetic waves in order?
From longest wavelength (lowest frequency/energy) to shortest wavelength (highest frequency/energy), the seven types are:
1. Radio Waves — wavelengths > 1 meter
2. Microwaves — wavelengths from 1 mm to 1 meter
3. Infrared (IR) — wavelengths from 700 nm to 1 mm
4. Visible Light — wavelengths from 380 nm to 700 nm
5. Ultraviolet (UV) — wavelengths from 10 nm to 380 nm
6. X-rays — wavelengths from 0.01 nm to 10 nm
7. Gamma Rays — wavelengths shorter than 0.01 nm
Which electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?
Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from about 1 meter to thousands of kilometers. Extremely low frequency (ELF) radio waves can have wavelengths as long as 100,000 km — longer than the diameter of Earth. These ultra-long wavelengths are used for submarine communication and geophysical exploration.
Which electromagnetic wave has the shortest wavelength?
Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths — less than 0.01 nanometers (10 picometers), with no theoretical lower limit. The most energetic gamma rays ever detected (from cosmic sources) have wavelengths around 10⁻¹⁸ meters or smaller. These ultra-high-energy photons carry energies measured in TeV (tera-electronvolts).
What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?
Wavelength (λ) and frequency (f) are inversely proportional, related by the equation c = λ × f, where c is the speed of light (≈ 3×10⁸ m/s). This means:
• As wavelength increases, frequency decreases
• As wavelength decreases, frequency increases
• The product of wavelength and frequency always equals the speed of light
For example, visible green light at λ = 550 nm has f = c/λ ≈ 545 THz. Radio waves at λ = 3 m have f ≈ 100 MHz. This inverse relationship is fundamental to all electromagnetic radiation.
How fast do electromagnetic waves travel?
In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves travel at exactly 299,792,458 meters per second (approximately 3×10⁸ m/s) — commonly called "the speed of light" (c). This is a universal physical constant. In other media (air, water, glass), EM waves slow down depending on the medium's refractive index. For instance, visible light travels about 25% slower in water than in a vacuum. Importantly, all EM waves — radio, microwaves, visible light, X-rays, etc. — travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
What is the visible light spectrum range in nanometers?
The visible light spectrum spans approximately 380 nm to 700 nm (nanometers). Within this range, different wavelengths are perceived as different colors:
• Violet: 380 – 450 nm
• Blue: 450 – 495 nm
• Green: 495 – 570 nm
• Yellow: 570 – 590 nm
• Orange: 590 – 620 nm
• Red: 620 – 700 nm
This is the only part of the EM spectrum directly detectable by human eyes, thanks to specialized photoreceptor cells (cones) in the retina.
How are X-rays different from gamma rays?
X-rays and gamma rays overlap in wavelength range, but they differ in their origin:
• X-rays are produced by electron interactions — such as electrons decelerating in a metal target (bremsstrahlung) or electron transitions in atoms. They originate from outside the atomic nucleus.
• Gamma rays are produced by nuclear processes — radioactive decay, nuclear fission/fusion, and annihilation of particle-antiparticle pairs. They originate from inside the atomic nucleus.
In terms of energy, gamma rays are typically higher in energy (above ~100 keV), though there is overlap in the 10–100 keV range where the distinction is based on origin rather than energy alone.
What everyday devices use different parts of the EM spectrum?
Different EM bands are used in countless everyday devices:
• Radio: AM/FM radio, TV broadcasting, walkie-talkies, garage door openers
• Microwave: Microwave ovens, WiFi (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth, GPS, cell phones
• Infrared: TV remote controls, thermal cameras, automatic doors, toasters, heat lamps
• Visible: Light bulbs, LED screens, lasers, cameras, fiber optic internet
• Ultraviolet: UV sanitizers, tanning beds, counterfeit detection, bug zappers
• X-ray: Medical X-ray machines, airport baggage scanners, dental imaging
• Gamma: PET scans, radiation therapy for cancer, industrial sterilization
Why can't humans see infrared or ultraviolet light?
Human vision is limited to ~380–700 nm because our retinal photoreceptor proteins (opsins in cone cells) can only absorb photons within this energy range. Photons with lower energy (infrared, λ > 700 nm) don't trigger the photochemical reaction needed for vision. Photons with higher energy (ultraviolet, λ < 380 nm) are largely absorbed by the cornea and lens before reaching the retina — which actually protects the eye from UV damage. Some animals, like bees and birds, can see UV light, while snakes can detect infrared via specialized pit organs.
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