What is the typical wavelength range for visible light?

What is the typical wavelength range for visible light?

• A. 10 to 100 nanometers
• B. 400 to 700 nanometers
• C. 700 to 1000 nanometers
• D. 1 to 10 micrometers

Answer: (B)

Visible light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect. This range sits roughly in the hundreds of nanometers, with the commonly accepted span being about 400 to 700 nanometers. Wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm fall into the ultraviolet, which we cannot see, while wavelengths longer than about 700 nm extend into red and near-infrared, which are mostly invisible to the naked eye. The other options correspond to ultraviolet/X-ray ranges, near-infrared, and mid-infrared, not the visible band.

Visible light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect. This range sits roughly in the hundreds of nanometers, with the commonly accepted span being about 400 to 700 nanometers. Wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm fall into the ultraviolet, which we cannot see, while wavelengths longer than about 700 nm extend into red and near-infrared, which are mostly invisible to the naked eye. The other options correspond to ultraviolet/X-ray ranges, near-infrared, and mid-infrared, not the visible band.