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Radio waves are the lowest frequencies in the electromagnetic 

spectrum, and are used mainly for communications.

Microwaves are basically extremely 

high frequency radio waves, and are 

made by various types of transmitter.

In a mobile phone, they're made by a 

transmitter chip and an antenna, in a 

microwave oven they're made by a 

"magnetron".

Their wavelength is usually a couple of 

centimetres. Stars also give off 

microwaves. 

Infra red waves are just below visible red light in the 

electromagnetic spectrum ("Infra" means "below")

Infra Red waves are also given off by stars, lamps, flames and 

anything else that's warm - including you.

The detector on this security light picks up the Infra red 

radiation from your body. 

Our eyes can detect only a tiny part of 

the electromagnetic spectrum, called 

visible light.

This means that there's a great deal 

happening around us that we're simply 

not aware of, unless we have 

instruments to detect it.

Light waves are given off by anything 

that's hot enough to glow.

Ultra-Violet light is made by special 

lamps, for example, on sun beds. It is 

given off by the Sun in large 

quantities. We call it "UV" for short. 

The UV attracts insects, which are 

electrocuted by high-voltage wires near 

the lamp - so they won't land on the 

food and contaminate it. 

X-rays are very high frequency waves, and carry a lot of 

energy. They will pass through most substances, and this 

makes them useful in medicine and industry to see inside 

things. 

X-rays are used by doctors to see inside people. The machines 

are managed by a trained x-ray technician. They pass easily 

through soft tissues, but not so easily through bones. 

Gamma rays are given off by stars, and by some radioactive 

substances.

They are extremely high frequency waves, and carry a large 

amount of energy.

They pass through most materials, and are quite difficult to 

stop - you need lead or concrete in order to block them out. 

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