Are the different types of electromagnetic radiation just based on arbitrary divisions or is there specific properties each type has within their respective wavelength range?
In: Physics
They do have some characteristic properties. The lines where one becomes other are
somewhat vague.
Gamma: Very high energy, very short wavelength. Ionizing radiation (=enough energy to strip electrons from atoms). Its creation usually involves nuclear reactions (radioactive decay, nuclear fusion, nuclear fission, annihilation). Goes through matter easily.
X-ray: High energy. Ionizing. Lower energy than gamma.
Gamma and x-ray are very similar. Under some definitions overlaps with gamma with the separation defining by the process though which they they are formed (x-rays coming from accelerated particles, for example in particle accelerators, while gamma comes from nuclear things). Goes through matter easily.
Ultraviolet: Quite high energy but low enough that something smaller than particle accelerator can make it (for example really hot things like welding arcs and our Sun or exited atoms). Ionizing. Not visible. Gets absorbed by matter so it doesn’t go through so easily.
Visible light: Human eyes can see it. Not ionizing. Does not penetrate matter easily.
Infrared: Not visible. warm and hot objects generate lots of this and it is absorbed by matter (causing it to heat). Does not penetrate matter easily.
Radio: Longer wavelength than infrared. Hot objects do not make much of radio waves. Goes through matter easily.
Microwaves: Radiowaves that have wavelength in the micrometer range.
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