/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 41 Rainbow What are two differences... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 5: Problem 41

Rainbow What are two differences between the red and green electromagnetic waves in a rainbow?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The two differences between red and green electromagnetic waves in a rainbow are: 1. Wavelength: Red light has a longer wavelength (approximately 700 nm) compared to green light (approximately 530 nm). 2. Frequency and Energy: Red light has a lower frequency (\(\sim 4.3 \times 10^{14}\) Hz) and lower energy, while green light has a higher frequency (\(\sim 5.6 \times 10^{14}\) Hz) and higher energy.

Step by step solution

01

Difference 1: Wavelength

The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into several regions, with visible light being one of them. Rainbow's colors represent the different wavelengths of visible light. Red light has a longer wavelength, typically around 700 nm, whereas green light has a shorter wavelength, approximately 530 nm. So the first difference between red and green light waves in a rainbow is their wavelength, with red light having a longer wavelength than green light.
02

Difference 2: Frequency (and energy)

As we know, the frequency of a wave is inversely proportional to its wavelength. Since red and green electromagnetic waves have different wavelengths, they will also have different frequencies. Red light has a lower frequency (\(\sim 4.3 \times 10^{14}\) Hz) compared to green light (\(\sim 5.6 \times 10^{14}\) Hz). Along with frequency, the energy of the light waves is also different. A higher frequency corresponds to a higher energy, and a lower frequency corresponds to lower energy. Therefore, green light has more energy compared to red light.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Wavelength of Light
Have you ever wondered why a rainbow has distinct colors? A key player in this spectacle is the wavelength of light. Light travels as a wave, and the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs is what we call the wavelength. It's measured in nanometers (nm), with one nanometer being one billionth of a meter.

When it comes to a rainbow, red light has a longer wavelength, around 700 nm, and green light has a shorter wavelength, close to 530 nm. This difference in wavelength is why we see these colors at different positions in a rainbow. Shorter wavelengths bend more than longer ones when passing through water droplets, spreading out to display the spectrum of colors we love to see.
Frequency of Electromagnetic Waves
Closely related to the wavelength is the frequency of electromagnetic waves. The frequency tells us how many waves pass a given point per second and is measured in Hertz (Hz). As the wavelength gets shorter, the frequency gets higher because more waves can fit in the same space over a period of time.

Considering red and green light in a rainbow, the red light with its long 700 nm waves has a lower frequency, while green light with its shorter 530 nm waves is higher in frequency. This connection between frequency and wavelength helps us understand why different colors of light have different energies.
Visible Light Spectrum
The rainbow is a natural spectrum display, illustrating the visible light spectrum. This spectrum is just a small part of the vast electromagnetic spectrum which includes other types of waves like radio waves, ultraviolet light, and X-rays. However, the human eye can only detect light within a certain range of wavelengths, from approximately 380 nm to 750 nm. Within this band, each wavelength corresponds to a different color, from violet at the shortest end to red at the longest end. Therefore, when you're looking at a rainbow, you're actually viewing the visible light spectrum spread across the sky in a beautiful arc.
Energy of Light Waves
The energy of light waves is vitally important when it comes to understanding the physical world. Energy in a light wave is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength. This means that waves with higher frequencies, and thus shorter wavelengths, carry more energy. In the context of a rainbow, even though green light has a shorter wavelength than red light, green light carries more energy because its frequency is higher. This is why ultraviolet light, which has an even shorter wavelength than visible light, can cause sunburn鈥攊t has enough energy to damage skin cells.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Radio Waves If your favorite FM radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 104.5 MHz, what is the wavelength of the station鈥檚 signal in meters? What is the energy of a photon of the station鈥檚 electromagnetic signal?

What are valence electrons? How many of a magnesium atom鈥檚 12 electrons are valence electrons?

What does \(n\) represent in the quantum mechanical model of the atom?

Identify whether each statement describes a chemical property or a physical property. (Chapter 3) a. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature. b. Sucrose is a white, crystalline solid. c. Iron rusts when exposed to moist air. d. Paper burns when ignited.

Compare and Contrast Briefly discuss the difference between an orbit in Bohr鈥檚 model of the atom and an orbital in the quantum mechanical view of the atom.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.