AQA · GCSE · Physics
Course version: 8463 · Version from Sept 2016
The waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum are grouped in terms of…
Full specification wording
Types of electromagnetic waves: The waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum are grouped in terms of their wavelength and their frequency. Going from long to short wavelength (or from low to high frequency) the groups are: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light (red to violet), ultraviolet, X- rays and gamma rays.
The order has to be recalled: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light from red to violet, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.
Checked against the AQA 8463 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 5
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The order has to be recalled: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light from red to violet, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. Read that way you are going from long wavelength to short and, because the speed is the same for all of them, from low frequency to high. Radio wavelengths can be hundreds of metres; gamma wavelengths are smaller than an atom. Energy rises with frequency, so the groups at the gamma end are the ones that ionise and damage tissue while the radio end does not. The same rule applies inside the visible band: red has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency of the visible colours and violet the shortest and highest. A mnemonic helps, but you also need to know which end of it is which.
What earns the marks
- The seven groups written in the correct order.
- Stating whether the order runs from long to short wavelength or low to high frequency.
- Placing red at the long wavelength end and violet at the short wavelength end of visible light.
- Linking the short wavelength end to higher frequency and greater energy.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Swapping infrared and ultraviolet, or putting visible light at one end of the spectrum.
Writing the order backwards when the question asks for increasing frequency.
Placing violet at the long wavelength end of the visible band.
Saying microwaves have a shorter wavelength than infrared.
Exam tips
- Write the seven groups in the margin at the start of any spectrum question, then read off what you need.
- Check the direction the question wants before you answer, since wavelength and frequency run opposite ways.
- Learn the visible band as red to violet, matching the specification wording.
Try the lesson
The start of the Types of electromagnetic waves: The waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum are grouped in terms of their wavelength and their frequency. Going from long to short wavelength (or from low to high frequency) the groups are: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light (red to violet), ultraviolet, X- rays and gamma rays. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which group of electromagnetic waves has the longest wavelength?
Listen
The order has to be recalled: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light from red to violet, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. Read that way you are going from long wavelength to short and, because the speed is the same for all of them, from low frequency to high. Radio wavelengths can be hundreds of metres; gamma wavelengths are smaller than an atom. Energy rises with frequency, so the groups at the gamma end are the ones that ionise and damage tissue while the radio end does not. The same rule applies inside the visible band: red has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency of the visible colours and violet the shortest and highest. A mnemonic helps, but you also need to know which end of it is which. A strong answer earns marks for these points. the seven groups written in the correct order. stating whether the order runs from long to short wavelength or low to high frequency. placing red at the long wavelength end and violet at the short wavelength end of visible light. linking the short wavelength end to higher frequency and greater energy. Exam tip: Write the seven groups in the margin at the start of any spectrum question, then read off what you need.
See it
Put it in order
Put these steps in the order they happen.
- 1. Gamma rays
- 2. X-rays
- 3. Infrared
- 4. Ultraviolet
- 5. Radio
- 6. Microwave
- 7. Visible light (red to violet)
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
order of the spectrum
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
long to short wavelength
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
red to violet
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- order of the spectrum
- Going from long to short wavelength, the groups are radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.
- long to short wavelength
- Because the speed is the same for all of them, going from long to short wavelength is also going from low to high frequency.
- red to violet
- Inside the visible band, red has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency of the visible colours and violet the shortest and highest.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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Test your understanding of Types of electromagnetic waves: The waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum are grouped in terms of their wavelength and their frequency. Going from long to short wavelength (or from low to high frequency) the groups are: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light (red to violet), ultraviolet, X- rays and gamma rays.
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