The electromagnetic spectrum includes all types of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation can be divided into different categories based on how long the waves are, how often they happen, and how much energy they have.

Here's a simple equation that shows the connection between these three things:

$$c = \lambda f$$

In this equation:

• $c$ is the speed of light, which is about 300 million meters per second.
• $\lambda$ (lambda) is the wavelength, measured in meters.
• $f$ is the frequency, measured in hertz.

Types of Waves and Their Ranges

1. Radio Waves:

   • Wavelength: Longer than 1 mm (can be over 100 km!)
   • Frequency: Less than 300 GHz
   • Uses: Used for communication and broadcasting.

2. Microwaves:

   • Wavelength: From 1 mm to 1 m
   • Frequency: From 300 GHz to 300 MHz
   • Uses: Used for cooking food and sending signals from satellites.

3. Infrared:

   • Wavelength: From 700 nanometers (nm) to 1 mm
   • Frequency: From 430 THz to 300 GHz
   • Uses: Used in remote controls and thermal imaging (seeing heat).

4. Visible Light:

   • Wavelength: From 400 nm to 700 nm
   • Frequency: From 750 THz to 430 THz
   • Uses: This is the light we can see and is used in photography.

5. Ultraviolet Light:

   • Wavelength: From 10 nm to 400 nm
   • Frequency: From 30 PHz to 750 THz
   • Uses: Used for sterilizing tools and making things glow.

6. X-rays:

   • Wavelength: From 0.01 nm to 10 nm
   • Frequency: From 30 PHz to 30 EHz
   • Uses: Used in medical imaging to see inside our bodies.

7. Gamma Rays:

   • Wavelength: Less than 0.01 nm
   • Frequency: More than 30 EHz
   • Uses: Used in cancer treatments and studying space.

In simple terms, as the wavelength of the radiation gets shorter, the frequency gets higher. This means it has more energy as you move through the electromagnetic spectrum.