What is the light in the region of the electromagnetic spectrum that is higher in energy than visible light?

1 Answer
Jul 5, 2018

Ultraviolet light

Explanation:

Below infrared is microwave radiation.

Below red light is infrared, considered to be light though not visible, with wavelengths approx 750nm down to 1mm (1,000,000nm).

In order of increasing photon energy, visible light colours are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
Some people can see a slightly wider spectrum than others, but generally accepted wavelength limits of visible light for humans are approximately:
750nm (nanometres = #10^-9 m#), deep red, lowest energy
380nm deep violet, highest energy

Above violet is ultraviolet, not visible but higher in energy (and capable of causing damage to body tissue e.g. sunburn, temporary or permanent eye damage, cataracts). Wavelengths 430nm to 100nm are considered to be ultraviolet light.

Above ultraviolet are x-rays and gamma rays.

Some of these types of radiation overlap each other (e.g x-rays begin well into the ultraviolet and extend into the gamma ray region).