List these types of electromagnetic radiation in order of (i) increasing wavelength and (ii) increasing energy per photon: a. radio waves b. microwaves c. infrared radiation d. ultraviolet radiation

The electromagnetic spectrum encapsulates the entire range of electromagnetic radiation, from very low-frequency radio waves to extremely high-frequency gamma rays. Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that is all around us and takes various forms, such as visible light, microwaves, X-rays, and radio waves.

Understanding the electromagnetic spectrum is crucial because it helps us comprehend how different types of radiation are used in everyday life. For example, radio waves are used for broadcasting music through your radio, microwaves in warming up your dinner, and infrared radiation in your television's remote control. We encounter various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum all the time without even realizing it.

In the context of the exercise, where different types of radiation are to be listed in order based on wavelength and energy per photon, it’s key to know that these characteristics define where on the spectrum the radiation lies.

In the discussion of electromagnetic radiation, the term 'wavelength' refers to the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs in a wave. It is commonly denoted by the Greek letter lambda \( \lambda \). Generally, electromagnetic radiation can be thought of as waves spreading through space.

The wavelength is inversely related to the frequency and energy of the radiation: longer wavelengths correspond to lower frequencies and lower energies, while shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies and higher energies. For instance, radio waves have much longer wavelengths than visible light, and therefore have lower frequencies and energy levels.

In our exercise, understanding wavelength allows students to arrange the types of radiation in the correct order. For example, radio waves have a longer wavelength compared to microwaves, implying that they are found at the opposite end of those regions in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Photons are the elementary particles that carry electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths. Every photon has a certain amount of energy which is determined by its frequency. This energy can be calculated using the equation \( E = hu \) where \( E \) is the energy of a photon, \( h \) is Planck's constant, and \( u \) (nu) is the frequency of the photon.

According to the exercise, as the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation increases, the energy per photon decreases. This is because the frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength and energy is directly proportional to frequency. Therefore, shorter wavelengths like ultraviolet radiation have higher energy photons compared to longer wavelengths like radio waves.

When students list types of radiation by increasing energy per photon, they are essentially ranking them from longer to shorter wavelengths, or from lower to higher frequency. This understanding is crucial in solving and grasping the concepts in the exercise effectively.