Visible Spectrum Infrared And Ultraviolet Light

Light also referred to in professional literature as radiation is best thought of as a spectrum consisting of ultraviolet light uv at the short end visible light in the center and infrared ir wavelengths at the long end.

Visible spectrum infrared and ultraviolet light.

In space infrared light helps us map the dust between stars. White light is a combination of lights of different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Also seeing well into one end of the spectrum doesn t necessarily mean you can see well into the other end of the spectrum. Non ionizing radiation includes the spectrum of ultraviolet uv visible light infrared ir microwave mw radio frequency rf and extremely low frequency elf.

Ultraviolet uv light has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Our eyes detect visible light. Other wavelengths especially near infrared longer than 760 nm and ultraviolet shorter than 380 nm are also sometimes referred to as light especially when the visibility to humans is not relevant. It is also known as the optical spectrum of light or the spectrum of white light.

Ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that precedes the color violet in the light spectrum. Night vision goggles pick up the infrared light emitted by our skin and objects with heat. While invisible to humans as with infrared light we can see the effects. Ultraviolet radiation is emitted by the sun and are the reason skin tans and burns.

Ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths than visible light with lengths of 10 to 400 nanometers. Essentially that equates to the colors the human eye can see. It ranges in wavelength from approximately 400 nanometers 4 x 10 7 m which is violet to 700 nm 7 x 10 7 m which is red. Some people can see further into the ultraviolet and infrared ranges than others so the visible light edges of red and violet are not well defined.

The sun is the best known source of ultraviolet rays. 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. The sun also emits x rays ultraviolet visible light infrared and even radio waves.

The visible light spectrum is the section of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Although the solar corona is a source of extreme ultraviolet and x ray radiation these rays make up only a very small amount of the power output of the sun see spectrum at right. Non ionizing radiation is found in a wide range of occupational settings and can pose a considerable health risk. The only direct signature of the nuclear process is the emission of neutrinos.

Hot objects in space emit uv radiation as well.