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Home » Energy: Radiation

Energy: Radiation

By Janice VanCleave

Radiation Symbol

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is a stream of photons each traveling at the speed of light.

Photons are massless bundles of light energy. The higher the energy of photons the more they behave as particles and can be harmful. The symbol shown with what looks like three blades of a fan notifies you that the radiation in the area can be dangerous.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum ranks EMR from lowest energy/longest wavelength to highest energy/shortest wavelength.The highest energy includes x-rays and gamma rays.

Sunlight is EMR, but x-rays and gamma rays are not part of the sunlight that reaches the surface. The three forms of EMR that makes up most of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface in order from most to least energy are: ultraviolet radiation (UV light), visible light, and infrared radiation (IR) or infrared light.

Find out more about EMR and other types of energy in “Janice VanCleave’s Energy for Every Kid.”

Energy for Every Kid

Energy for Every Kid

(Paid Link)


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Filed Under: Energy, Physics Tagged With: EMR, photons, radiation

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The spoon hanging from the string vibrates when struck and these vibrations are transmitted through the string and the sound is amplified by the plastic cups. ABOUT ME: Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50 best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years. MORE.....

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