Which wave lies beyond ultraviolet in the spectrum?

Which wave lies beyond ultraviolet in the spectrum?

• A. Infrared
• B. Microwave
• C. Ultraviolet
• D. X-rays

Answer: (D)

Understanding how the electromagnetic spectrum is ordered helps here: energy increases as wavelength gets shorter. Infrared and microwave sit with longer wavelengths (lower energy) than visible light, so they are not beyond ultraviolet. Ultraviolet is shorter in wavelength than visible light but not the shortest in this list. The waves that lie beyond ultraviolet have even shorter wavelengths and higher energy, which places them in the X-ray region. Among the choices, X-rays are the ones that come after ultraviolet. This is also why X-rays can penetrate many materials, unlike infrared or microwaves.

Understanding how the electromagnetic spectrum is ordered helps here: energy increases as wavelength gets shorter. Infrared and microwave sit with longer wavelengths (lower energy) than visible light, so they are not beyond ultraviolet. Ultraviolet is shorter in wavelength than visible light but not the shortest in this list. The waves that lie beyond ultraviolet have even shorter wavelengths and higher energy, which places them in the X-ray region. Among the choices, X-rays are the ones that come after ultraviolet. This is also why X-rays can penetrate many materials, unlike infrared or microwaves.