Final answer:
UV waves have higher frequencies than IR waves. Ultraviolet radiation extends from higher frequencies of visible light, while infrared radiation has lower frequencies that overlap with the highest-frequency microwaves.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the student's question, UV waves have higher frequencies than IR waves. This is because the electromagnetic spectrum is arranged by frequency, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation lies above violet in the visible light range, which means it has a higher frequency. In contrast, infrared rays, or IR, have lower frequencies and longer wavelengths than visible light. As we move from IR to visible light to UV, the wavelengths get shorter and the frequencies get higher.
Ultraviolet radiation starts with frequencies just above violet in the visible range, which confirms its higher frequency compared to infrared radiation. Moreover, UV radiation is primarily produced by electronic transitions in atoms and molecules and has wavelengths ranging from 400 nm down to about 10 nm at its highest frequencies, overlapping with the lowest X-ray frequencies.
In summary, UV waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum with frequencies higher than both visible light and infrared radiation, placing them above IR in terms of frequency.