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>>>Red is neither the longest nor the shortes wavelength
microwaves and radio waves are way longer. Visible light runs from around 450nm
(Blue end) to about 650nm (Red end)
The detectable electromagnetic spectrum runs from waves which are a millionth of a nanometer across (Gamma waves) to waves that are 100 km across (Radio waves) The visible part of that is absolutely minute. In astronomy "photographs" are taken using almost the entire electromagnetic spectrum.>>> Perhaps a look at the electromagnetic spectrum is in order.
The radio spectrum breaks down as follows, lowest frequency to highest (or
think it in terms of length, which it is, hence the term "wavelength"):
Radio Waves:
(Longest) ELF
VLF
LF
MF
HF
UHF
SHF
(Shortest) EHF
Then light:
(Longest) Infrared
Visible light
X-Rays
Gamma-Ray
(Shortest) Cosmic Rays
From radio waves to gamma rays, it is still the
electromagnetic spectrum. From your iron to your cat to your radio to your
flash to your doctors x-ray machine, they all radiates energy at some
frequency along the electromagnetic spectrum.
Visible light waves, microwaves, gamma radiation, and radio waves are the
same, except for their length. Light we see is also part of the electromagnetic
spectrum. By the way, microwaves are shorter than radio waves; (ELF - EHF) yet
we hams can operate above 300 Ghz. Radio waves fit into the spectrum and
all frequencies are used for communications.
The spectrum is a continuous sliding scale and what differentiates a
VHF wave from a gamma wave is its length. Visible light is that narrow region
that divides IR from UV. The detectable part runs from ELF (radio waves) to
cosmic waves.
Bob
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