The Electromagnetic Spectrum: Ultra violet (2024)

FAQs

The Electromagnetic Spectrum: Ultra violet? ›

Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight, and constitutes about 10% of the total electromagnetic radiation output from the Sun.

UV radiation is the portion of the EM spectrum between X-rays and visible light.

Ultraviolet radiation lies between visible light and X-rays along the electromagnetic spectrum. UV "light" spans a range of wavelengths between about 10 and 400 nanometers. The wavelength of violet light is around 400 nanometers (or 4,000 Å).

UV has a higher frequency and shorter wavelength than visible light, and it has a lower frequency and longer wavelength than X-radiation. UV with its longer wavelength and less energy is less penetrating than X-ray and is sometimes absorbed by matter.

What is UV Energy? UV light comprises a segment of the electromagnetic spectrum between 400 and 100 nm, corresponding to photon energies from 3 to 124 eV. The UV segment has four sections, labeled UV-A (400 to 315 nm), UV-B (315 to 280 nm), very high energy and destructive UV-C (280 to 200 nm), and vacuum UV.

Ultraviolet radiation also comes from sun lamps and tanning beds. It can cause skin damage, premature aging, melanoma, and other types of skin cancer. It can also cause problems with the eyes and the immune system.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which has a wavelength of between 220 and 400 nanometers (nm). UV radiation is considered non-ionizing which means that the radiation is not sufficiently energetic to remove electrons from an atom.

What is UV Light? Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Although UV waves are invisible to the human eye, some insects, such as bumblebees, can see them. This is similar to how a dog can hear the sound of a whistle just outside the hearing range of humans.

Gamma and ultraviolet waves are both types of electromagnetic radiation found on the electromagnetic spectrum. Gamma rays possess much higher energy and shorter wavelength than ultraviolet waves.

The sun is our primary natural source of UV radiation. Artificial sources include tanning booths, black lights, germicidal lamps, mercury vapor lamps, halogen lights, high-intensity discharge lamps, fluorescent and incandescent sources, and some types of lasers.

What is the strongest color frequency? ›

Violet waves carry the most energy because they have the shortest wavelength and the highest frequency in the visible light spectrum.

Short-wavelength UVC is the most damaging type of UV radiation. However, it is completely filtered by the atmosphere and does not reach the earth's surface.

Prolonged exposure to UV rays modifies lens proteins, leading to cataract formation and worsening eyesight. Over time, cataracts can make vision blurry, hazy, or less colorful. Cancers of the eyelid, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are linked to UV exposure.

UV radiation is widely used in industrial processes and in medical and dental practices for a variety of purposes, such as killing bacteria, creating fluorescent effects, curing inks and resins, phototherapy and suntanning.

Although insects (photo-positive) can see ultraviolet energy and will respond to it, response range is completely dependent upon the visual acuity of the insect species. Insect visual range is generally less than 100 feet.

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Ultraviolet lasers

The nitrogen gas laser uses electronic excitation of nitrogen molecules to emit a beam that is mostly UV. The strongest ultraviolet lines are at 337.1 nm and 357.6 nm in wavelength. Another type of high-power gas lasers are excimer lasers.

But among all the hues found in rocks, plants and flowers, or in the fur, feathers, scales and skin of animals, blue is surprisingly scarce. But why is the color blue so rare? The answer stems from the chemistry and physics of how colors are produced — and how we see them.