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Ultraviolet light has ________ wavelength and __________ frequency relative to visible light.

1) shorter; smaller
2) shorter; larger
3) longer; smaller
4) longer; larger

User Brans Ds
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Final answer:

The correct option: shorter; larger.

Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength and larger frequency compared to visible light, with violet light having the highest frequency and shortest wavelength within the visible range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement regarding ultraviolet light compared to visible light is that ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength and a higher frequency. The electromagnetic spectrum is arranged in order of wavelength and frequency, with longer wavelengths corresponding to lower frequencies and shorter wavelengths corresponding to higher frequencies.

Visible light spans from red light, which has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency of visible light, to violet light, which has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency within the visible spectrum. Ultraviolet light follows violet light in the electromagnetic spectrum and thus, by definition, has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than visible light does.

When comparing light within the visible spectrum itself, red light has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency, whereas violet light has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency. And as observed, light with shorter wavelengths possesses more energy; thus, ultraviolet light, having even shorter wavelengths than violet light, carries more energy and can cause materials to fluoresce. It is also more damaging to living cells due to its higher energy and frequency.

User Saif Ali Khan
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