Which of the following correctly compares uv rays and infrared waves? a. infrared waves have higher energy than uv rays. b. infrared waves have the same wavelength as uv rays. c. infrared waves have lower frequency than uv rays. d. infrared waves have shorter wavelength than uv rays.

C. Infrared waves have lower frequency than UV rays.

Explanation:

The electromagnetic spectrum establishes the distribution of the radiation due to the different frequencies to which it radiates and its different intensities, and that radiation being formed by electromagnetic waves, which are transverse waves formed by an electric field and a magnetic field perpendicular to it.

The distribution of the radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum can also be given in wavelengths, but it is more frequent to work with it at frequencies, gamma rays being the highest, followed by X-rays, ultraviolet rays and the visible region, and those of lower frequencies, infrared, microwave and radio waves.

Since wavelength is the opposite to the frequency, infrared waves (which have low frequency) has therefore a long wavelength, while the ultraviolet waves have short wavelength.

Ultraviolet waves are more energetic than infrared waves, as it is shown in the following equation:

  (1)

Where h is planck’s constant, c is the speed of light and is the wavelength.

When the wavelength decreases, the energy will increase (inversely proportional).