0
Why are ultraviolet waves and visible light waves measured in units of nanometers rather than meters or centimeters?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
They are measured in terms of a smaller "unit value" to avoid constantly using the decimal or exponential values. That is, it is easier to compare wavelengths if they are expressed as integer values. A nanometer is just a convenient way of saying one-billionth of a meter.
Example : Humans can see wavelengths from about 390 to 750 nanometers ("visible light"), but birds can detect light farther into the ultraviolet range, 300 to 400 nanometers.
This is much simpler to compare than giving the values as 0.000000390 to .000000750 meters or as 3.9 x 10-7 to 7.5 x 10-7 meters.
To give a reverse analogy, you would not compare the distances between cities in terms of how many inches it was from one city to the next.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is the wave length of an ultraviolet wave?
From the related links: between about 10 nanometers (most energetic Extreme Ultraviolet) to about 300 nanometers (least energetic Near Ultraviolet). Visible violet light is about 400 nanometers.
The frequency of visible light falls between that of?
Ultraviolet and the infrared.
What gives off visible light under an ultraviolet light?
== Fluorescence== Fluorescent objects emit visible light when stimulated by ultraviolet light.
Visible light contains various wave lengths what are the wavelengths in nanometers?
Between 380 nm (visible as violet) to 750 nm (visible as red).
What are the three wavelengths that are shorter than visible light?
There are an infinite number of wavelengths above visible, below visible, and within visible. Since reality has infinite resolution, we can imagine varying the wavelength with infinite division. To call out bands of wavelength: Ultraviolet, X-rays, & Gamma rays.
What is the wave length of an ultraviolet wave?
From the related links: between about 10 nanometers (most energetic Extreme Ultraviolet) to about 300 nanometers (least energetic Near Ultraviolet). Visible violet light is about 400 nanometers.
Can a nanometer measure a wavelength?
Yes. The wavelengths of visible light are usually measured in nanometers.
Where on the electromagnetic spectrum is visible light?
Higher frequency than infrared, but lower than ultraviolet, in otherwords in the middle
Is wavelength measured in hertz or meters?
Usually, no. The wavelength of visible light is usually measured in nanometers. Only larger forms of electromagnetic radiation, like radio waves, are measured in meters.
What range of wavelengths does UV radiation have?
Visible light has a wavelength of 400nm-700nm (from violet to red). Ultraviolet rays which starts immediately after the violet region of visible light have their wavelength from 10nm-400nm.(where nm means nano-meter)
Is 300 nanometers visible to the human eye?
No.
How long a distance colors in light reach are measured in?
If the question is "What measures of distance are used with (visible) light?" Light is normally measured either in Angstroms, which are ten-billionths of a meter, or, more commonly today, in nanometers, which are one-billionths of a meter. Red light is around 700-690 nanometers (some claim all the way to 760 nm) and the wavelengths get shorter as the colors get "cooler" (that's psychologically cooler; they are actually getting more energetic). Around 400-390 nm they slip into the ultraviolet and we can no longer see them.
What ray is longer ultraviolet or visible rays?
All visible wavelengths are longer than the wavelength of ultraviolet.
Is ultraviolet light visible?
No
What type of light can humans not see?
With the naked eye, the part between 400 and 700 nanometers called the visible spectrum. Red to Violet/Blue. Humans can NOT see ultraviolet light, only what is reflected off using something within the visible spectrum. Humans also can NOT see infrared light without special instruments.
What color is the Visible spectrum wavelength of 750 nanometers?
Blue
What has wavelengths between 380 and 750 nanometers?
Visible light
