The Sun is a star that our planet Earth spins around. It is responsible for most of the changes that happen on Earth. The Sun emits (sends) waves… Some of these waves make it to Earth. The waves that the Sun sends are called electromagnetic waves. Remember how electromagnetic waves do not need a medium? That means they can travel through outer space! The Sun sends out waves of different wavelengths. Some of the waves from the Sun have short wavelengths and some have long wavelengths. The Sun sends out waves of different wavelengths. Some of the waves from the Sun have short wavelengths and some have long wavelengths. The way an electromagnetic wave acts depends on its wavelength. Did you know the Sun is about 93 million miles away from Earth? Scientists have created a system which organizes the waves from the Sun from long to short wavelength. Do you know what the system is called? Scientists have created a system which organizes the waves from the Sun from long to short wavelength. Do you know what the system is called? That’s right, the electromagnetic spectrum !

The Electromagnetic Spectrum A radio wave has a wavelength as big as a soccer field! An X-ray has a wavelength as small as a water molecule! We can’t see all of the waves from the sun… We can only see the waves in the visible spectrum!

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Longer wavelengthShorter wavelength Which type of wave has the longest wavelength? Which type of wave has the shortest wavelength? Which color has a longer wavelength: orange or green ?

Visible Light- part of the electromagnetic spectrum that allows the human eye to see color

INFRARED LIGHT Do you see a word you already know in the word INFRARED? Yes, RED! Infrared means ‘below red’. Look at the picture below.

Infrared light- invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible red light Infrared waves are used in space heaters and TV remotes.

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT Ultraviolet means beyond violet. The wavelengths in UV light rays are shorter than the wavelength of violet/purple.

Ultraviolet Light- invisible to the human eye, most people are aware of the effects of UV on the skin due to suntan or sunburn