How do you explain the different types of electromagnetic energy?

Answer 1

Electromagnetic (EM) energy is just one type of energy. It's a force in nature, and is one of the four fundamental forces we know of (along with gravity, and the strong and weak interactions, or forces). Let's look at how electromagnetic energy appears, and we'll do that by looking across the range of frequencies in which it is distributed. We call this distribution the electromagnetic spectrum, and we'll start at the bottom and work our way up. We'll remind you that low frequency means long wavelength and long period and low energy. Now let's get started. Lowest on the EM spectrum are the extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves. We then see the super low (SLF), ultra low (ULF) and very low (VLF) frequencies. Then low (LF), medium (MF) and high (HF) frequencies, then very high (VHF), ultra high (UHF), super high (SHF) and extremely high (EHF) frequencies. All these frequencies of electromagnetic radiation are basically categorized as "radio waves" because that's primarily how we use them, what we use them for - for communications. Certainly the higher end of those groups of frequencies finds applications for other things in addition to communications, and the microwave oven is just one example. Things get more interesting as we go higher. Beyond the microwaves, those frequencies which we use in cell phone and satellite communications (among other things) we have what is called the infrared (IR) region. It's broken down into (in order of increasing frequency, which we've been doing) the far infrared (FIR), mid infrared (MIR) and near infrared (NIR) portions of the spectrum. These are all frequencies just below the optical spectrum, and thermal energy is transmitted fairly effectively by them. From here, we move into the visible spectrum. We're familiar with the red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet of the optical spectrum. We call this visible light, and we just about take it for granted, don't we? (At least sighted people with good color vision do.) Beyond that is the ultraviolet (UV) region, with the near ultraviolet (NUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) ranges within it. All that's left is the soft and hard X-ray (SX and HX) regions, and then the gamma (Y) region at the very top end. We're familiar with the X-rays and what they do, and the gamma rays, generated by changes in atomic nuclei, are just the extreme top end of the spectrum. Use the link below to do some review and look at some different aspects of the electromagnetic spectrum. Continue your investigation and discover how we generate and use these different frequencies of electromagnetic energy. You'll find more surprises than you can count.

Answer 2

There's really only one kind,

but by tradition and usage we've split up the spectrum from low (radio)

through such things as heat & light & X-rays,

to cosmic rays.

Answer 3

Electromagnetic energy can be caused by all and any of the following:

• ELF waves
• radio waves
• microwaves
• infrared radiation
• visible light
• ultraviolet light
• X-rays
• gamma rays

Answer 4

Radio waves,televisionwaves, & microwaves are types of electromagnetic waves. They differ from each other in wavelength etc

Answer 5

They differ in their wavelength/frequency, and in
the amount of energy carried by each quantum.