Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by the human eye.
Visible light is a form of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, as are radio waves, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and microwaves. Generally, visible light is defined as the wavelengths that are visible to most human eyes. Electromagnetic spectrum range The electromagnetic spectrum, from highest to lowest frequency wavelengths. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Visible light is a type of electromagnetic radiation , which is transmitted in waves or particles at different wavelengths and frequencies. This broad range of wavelengths is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. That spectrum is typically divided into seven regions in order of decreasing wavelength and increasing energy and frequency. These regions are: radio waves (wavelengths greater than 0.4 inch, or 10 millimeters) microwaves (wavelengths between 0.004 and 0.4 inch, or 0.1 to 10 mm) infrared (IR) (wavelengths between 0.00003 and 0.004 inch, or 740 nanometers to 100 micrometers) (IR) (wavelengths between 0.00003 and 0.004 inch, or 740 nanometers to 100 micrometers) visible light,(wavelengths between 0.000015 and 0.00003 inch, or 380 to 740 nanometers) ultraviolet (UV) (wavelengths between 0.000015 and 0.00003 inch, or 380 to 740 nanometers) X-rays (wavelengths between 4 × 10^−7 to 4 × 10^−8 inch, or 100 picometers to 10 nanometers) (wavelengths between 4 × 10^−7 to 4 × 10^−8 inch, or 100 picometers to 10 nanometers) gamma-rays (wavelengths less than 4 × 10^−9 inch, or 100 picometers) Visible light falls in the range of the EM spectrum between infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV). It has frequencies of about 4 × 1014 to 8 × 1014 cycles per second, or hertz (Hz) and wavelengths of about 740 nanometers (nm) or 2.9 × 10−5 inches, to 380 nm (1.5 × 10−5 inches). Visible light spectrum and color A diagram showing the visible color spectrum. (Image credit: WinWin artlab via Shutterstock) Perhaps the most important characteristic of visible light is color. Color is both an inherent property…