What is the difference between infrared and ultraviolet

The spectrum covers electromagnetic waves with frequencies that range from less than one hertz to over 10 25 hertz and corresponding to wavelengths from thousands of kilometers to a fraction of infinitesimal size. Prior to the s, electricity, and magnetism were believed to be separate forces. However, in , James Maxwell observed that:. These discoveries led to the development of a unified theory for electricity and magnetism , giving birth to electromagnetism.

This deals with how electrically charged particles interact with one another and with the magnetic field. The movement produces oscillating electric and magnetic fields which travel in a bundle of light energy called a photon.

Despite these basic similarities, there are also some important differences and this is exactly what I am going to point out in the next section. Before we dive in fully, it is important we establish first what frequency is. So, electromagnetic radiation is transmitted in the form of waves. A simple wave is composed of two parts, the wave crest which is the upper part of the wave and the trough, which is the lower part. So in a nutshell, an electromagnetic frequency is the number of wave cycles that are made in a unit time, especially in a second and it is measured in Hertz Hz.

It has a frequency that roughly covers the range GHz to THz and has a wavelength of 1mm — nm. This wavelength refers to the distance between two successive wave crests and it determines the energy band and lattice vibration of the EM radiations. It has a frequency that falls in the range of about 8 x 10 14 Hz to 3 x 10 16 Hz and has a wavelength of about nm to 10 nm and just like infra-red radiations; it is also divided into 3 bands.

The notion of radiation conjures a frightening imagination, but it is important to point out that not every radiation is bad. In fact, the use of infrared radiation in a non-invasive healing procedure has been proven to be scientifically safe. Again, everything the human eyes can see basically radiates infra-red continuously and this can only mean that infra-red is not dangerous.

However, exposure for too long can damage the eyes. This is the reason people that work in industries that expose them to infrared radiation for too long wear goggles. Again, large doses of this radiation can damage the skin and tissues and it is also responsible for the greenhouse effect. This means these radiation waves have an electric field and a magnetic field oscillating perpendicular to each other.

There are different types of electromagnetic radiation, depending on the wavelength of the radiation. Overview and Key Difference 2. What is Infrared Radiation 3. What is Ultraviolet Radiation 4. Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength range of nm — 1 nm.

Therefore, the wavelength range of this radiation is longer than that of visible light. This makes this radiation invisible to the human eye.

Infrared radiation can be abbreviated as IR radiation. It begins from the red edge of the visible light. Infrared radiation or IR also referred to as infrared, is a region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum where the range of wavelengths is from about nanometers to 1 millimetre. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel.

Skip to content Home Miscellaneous What is the difference between infrared and ultraviolet rays? Esther Fleming December 8, Table of Contents. Previous Article What state has the best wings? Next Article What type of land does Afghanistan have? IR and UV radiation are a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The visible light has a wavelength of nm to nm.

The area alongside with a longer wavelength is the IR spectrum. The majority of the IR radiation on earth comes from the sun. The area next to the visible light, with a shorter wavelength, is the UV spectrum. Each wavelength transports a certain amount of energy.