Waves in the electromagnetic spectrum

Waves in the electromagnetic spectrum vary in wavelength from very long radio waves to very short gamma-rays.

Radio waves vary in length from very long waves (up to a kilometer) to shorter waves the size of buildings and people.

Microwaves are around the size of an insect.

Infrared waves are about the length of a pinhead.

Visible waves are the size of bacteria.

Ultraviolet waves are about the length of molecules.

X-rays are about the length of atoms.

Gamma-rays are the smallest waves, smaller than the size of the nucleus of an atom.