The color with the lowest energy is red.
Understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is a range of all types of electromagnetic radiation. It includes everything from radio waves to gamma rays. Visible light is only a small portion of this spectrum. Different colors of light have different wavelengths and energies.
Relationship Between Wavelength and Energy
- Longer wavelengths: Correspond to lower energy.
- Shorter wavelengths: Correspond to higher energy.
Visible Light Spectrum
The visible light spectrum ranges from red to violet. According to our provided reference:
Red has the lowest energy and violet the highest.
Therefore, since red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum, it has the lowest energy. Violet, on the other hand, with the shortest wavelength, has the highest energy.
Beyond the Visible Spectrum
It's also important to note, that there are other types of light that our eyes can't see which extend beyond red and violet such as infrared and ultraviolet, respectively. These types of light continue to follow the same pattern with energy associated to wavelength, as the referenced material explains.
Examples
- Radio waves: Have much longer wavelengths than red light and therefore have much lower energy.
- Gamma rays: Have much shorter wavelengths than violet light and thus have much higher energy.
Table: Visible Light and Energy
| Color | Wavelength | Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Longest | Lowest |
| Orange | Shorter than Red | Low |
| Yellow | Shorter than Orange | Medium |
| Green | Shorter than Yellow | Medium |
| Blue | Shorter than Green | High |
| Indigo | Shorter than Blue | High |
| Violet | Shortest | Highest |
Key Takeaway
Red light represents the lowest end of the energy spectrum within visible light, characterized by its longer wavelengths.
