the energy of microwaves is less than the energy of ultraviolet light. which comparison of the energies of…

the energy of microwaves is less than the energy of ultraviolet light. which comparison of the energies of electromagnetic waves is correct?\nx - rays have lower energy than gamma rays because x - rays have higher frequencies.\nx - rays have lower energy than gamma rays because x - rays have shorter wavelengths.\nvisible light has higher energy than infrared light because visible light has longer wavelengths.\nvisible light has higher energy than infrared light because visible light has higher frequencies.

the energy of microwaves is less than the energy of ultraviolet light. which comparison of the energies of electromagnetic waves is correct?\nx - rays have lower energy than gamma rays because x - rays have higher frequencies.\nx - rays have lower energy than gamma rays because x - rays have shorter wavelengths.\nvisible light has higher energy than infrared light because visible light has longer wavelengths.\nvisible light has higher energy than infrared light because visible light has higher frequencies.

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Recall energy - frequency - wavelength relation

The energy of an electromagnetic wave is given by $E = h\nu=\frac{hc}{\lambda}$, where $h$ is Planck's constant, $\nu$ is the frequency, $c$ is the speed of light and $\lambda$ is the wavelength. Higher frequency or shorter wavelength means higher energy.

Step2: Analyze each option

  • Option 1: X - rays have higher frequencies than gamma - rays is incorrect. Gamma - rays have higher frequencies and thus higher energies than X - rays.
  • Option 2: Since $E=\frac{hc}{\lambda}$, shorter wavelength means higher energy. X - rays have higher energy than gamma - rays is incorrect as gamma - rays have shorter wavelengths than X - rays.
  • Option 3: Visible light has shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies) than infrared light, so it has higher energy, not lower. This option is incorrect.
  • Option 4: Since $E = h\nu$, higher frequency means higher energy. Visible light has higher frequencies than infrared light, so visible light has higher energy. This option is correct.

Answer:

Visible light has higher energy than infrared light because visible light has higher frequencies.