ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM Sixth Grade Science ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Represents All Of The Types Of Radiation That Come to Us From The Sun.

Includes types of light we know well, like visible light and light waves we don’t know as well, like radio waves and gamma waves.

All Of The Waves In The Electromagnetic Spectrum Are Radiant Waves That makes them different from sound and seismic waves that are MECHANICAL waves.

They are TRANSVERSE WAVES… …and have many of the parts with which you are familiar.

They move best through the vacuum of space. Radiant Waves Do NOT Need a Medium (or molecules) to Move Through Like Mechanical Waves. They move best through the vacuum of space.

The denser the material, the slower they move The denser the material, the slower they move. (Mechanical waves are the opposite) When visible light waves travel through water, the water not only slows it down, but changes the direction the waves are traveling. It makes this pencil look broken to our eyes.

Visible Light makes up only a tiny portion of the entire spectrum

All of the waves that make up the spectrum have different wavelengths and frequencies. INCREASING ENERGY AND FREQUENCY INCREASING WAVELENGTH

Their wavelengths & frequencies define what kind of waves they are.

From Radio Waves to Gamma Waves- they get more dangerous!

Radio waves are HUGE, while Gamma waves are TINY.