So radiowaves, x-rays, gammarays, visible light, microwaves, etc. are all just 'light' at different frequencies. Gamma rays are on one end of the spectrum with the highest frequency. I guess this would be the limit on how frequent the wavelengths can travel and this results in Gamma rays. But on the other end, we have long radio waves with the lowest frequency of light waves. But is there a limit to how long a light wave can be? That is, is there a limit to how less frequent a wave can be? If so what would that look like, and how would we detect it?
2007-06-15 11:16:20 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Ok so 'light' is what we commonly refer to in physics as 'visible light'. 'Light', in physics terms refers to the entire electromagnetic spectrum whereas 'visible light' more specifically refers to a small piece of it.
The electromagnetic spectrum, (or what we'll call 'light' for short), is best represented as a continuum with 'visible-light' (what the human eye can detect) only composing a small section of it. That means we can see red through blue (or maybe violet, but irrelevant). We cant see past blue (eg, Gamma rays) b/c the 'light waves' become too 'energetic' (determined by frequency) for our eyes to detect. Concievably, their can be a limit (or can there?) as to how frequent a light wave can be. I guess this would just be infinite(?). Idk, but is there a limit to how 'un'-frequent it is? If so, is there a point at which the light wave becomes - or -unbecomes a light wave? If not (ie, super-duper-long radiowaves), is there an instrument we can make to detect these?
2007-06-22 08:56:48 · update #1
gatech.org
2007-06-15 11:21:54 · answer #1 · answered by ronald c 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To detect a wave beyond normal measure, filter it to slow it down (like the suns rays through the atmosphere) and it will drop down to the visible spectra.
EG a filter is created to filter invisible light 500%, it shows as blue light. Therefore we can plot its frequency or detect its presence.
Slow a wave down enough and all you end up with is a subsonic vibration.
Problem with light is it's more than a wave though, its also a particle, and there are other things to detect in light particles such as their "leftness" or "rightness".
How to filter for that I have no clue except for if the filtered light can then be passed through a disruption pattern.
2007-06-22 01:00:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rather than calling it "Light", call it Electro-magnetic radiation, then you have it all from gamma rays at the upper known end to supper-low frequecy stuff at the other end.
Basically, just as we thought the molecule was as small as it got, then atoms, them protons, neutrons & electrons, then... and so on, we cannot be sure that Gamma radiation is the highest frequency, nor can we say for sure what is the lowest. It could be one wave per galaxy life which we obviously cannot detect or measure.
2007-06-22 05:13:09 · answer #3 · answered by Tim 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would be hard to form a wave of such low frequency that its wavelength was so long that it didn't fit in the universe.
It would also take a long long time to get through a cycle.
Detection would be a problem also. E.G. 1/f noise would dominate at some point.
2007-06-15 11:23:16 · answer #4 · answered by anotherbsdparent 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
easy is in considered one of those a wave, and the spectrum many times refers to diverse wavelengths of light that have diverse appearances. you're remarkable that electricity is the flow of electrons, and magnetism is comparable. An electromagnet has a magnetic field created with the aid of the circulate of electricity by a coil. even with the reality that easy and electricity are in truth diverse, there are different parallels. to illustrate, electric voltage could be measured with an oscilloscope and could appear like a wave....
2016-12-13 04:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is natural limit on possible frequency of anything 10^-18 Hz.
The Universe itself is merely flicker noise of this frequency.
2007-06-15 11:27:52 · answer #6 · answered by Alexander 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is a trick question, since it still is not known exactly what "light" is! sometimes it acts as a particle, and other times as a wave form. And like gravity,the brightest minds in the world still don't know what the hell it really is!
2007-06-20 13:16:27 · answer #7 · answered by luke_the_duke 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no lower limit and people who study super low frequencies just take a stereo amp and hook it up to an antenna.
2007-06-15 11:38:47 · answer #8 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There may not be a limit but if it is too long it will be invisible.
2007-06-21 07:26:37 · answer #9 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋