How do the sizes of atoms compare to the wavelengths of visible light?

Answer 1

It's hard to come up with a definite number, because the total electromagnetic

spectrum has no definite edges. So, although we do know pretty close what the

limits of visible wavelength are, there are no definite limits of electromagnetic

wavelengths to compare to the visible range. However, I have handled this

question a few times here on W.A., and I can give you a few facts on the

subject.

The first, basic answer to your question is: Any way you slice it, the visible range

of wavelengths is a teeny, tiny, minuscule sliver of the total EM spectrum.

In order to come up with a number, let's set some limitsto the total spectrum.

Let's say that the lowest frequency (longest wavelength) is the bottom of the

AM radio broadcast band ... 550 KHz. And let's say that the highest frequency

(shortest waves) are the longest of what we call gamma rays ... somewhere

around 10^-19 meters in wavelength (3 giga-giga-gigahertz).

That range covers about 72 octaves (1 octave means double the frequency or wavelength, or cut them in half.)

Out of that 72 octaves, roughly 1 octave of wavelengths are visible ... something like

380 nanometers (dull violet) to 750 nanometers (deep red).

Answer 2

The shortest wavelength of visible light, at the violet end of the spectrum, is about 390 nanometers. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter or a millionth of a millimeter.

One of the elements with the largest atoms is cesium. The diameter of a cesium atom is about 520 picometers. A picometer is a thousandth of a nanometer.

So although it would take more than 200 wavelengths of 390-nm light to span the diameter of a human hair, it would take a row of 750 cesium atoms to span the distance of 1 wavelength of 390-nm light.

The average diameter of a human hair is about 90 microns, which equals about 90 thousand nanometers or about 90 million picometers.

Answer 3

Atoms are much smaller than the wavelength of visible light.

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths comparable to the size of atoms is the
radiation with the shortest known wavelength, and is what we call "gamma rays".

By the way, this is one of several reasons why we can't 'see' the structure of atoms
with light. In the context of the present discussion, it would be like trying to 'read'
the printing on a coin with heavy gloves on, or by dragging the end of a thick log
across the coin.

Answer 4

Atoms are much smaller in size compared to the wavelengths of visible light. The typical size of an atom is on the order of 0.1 to 0.3 nanometers, while the wavelengths of visible light range from about 400 to 700 nanometers. This means that atoms are significantly smaller than the wavelengths of visible light.

Answer 5

Oh dear, there appears to be something wrong with this page as well as there is no question to answer. It is impossible to write an incorrect answer however as there is no question posed.

Answer 6

yes