Which wavelength range corresponds to visible light?

Which wavelength range corresponds to visible light?

• A. 400 to 700 nanometers
• B. 1 to 10 nanometers
• C. 1 meter to 10 meters
• D. 700 to 1000 nanometers

Answer: (A)

Visible light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect. It sits roughly between 400 and 700 nanometers. Wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm are ultraviolet and invisible, while wavelengths longer than about 700 nm are infrared and also invisible. Within 400–700 nm, different wavelengths correspond to the colors we see, from violet at the shorter end to red at the longer end. The range 400–700 nanometers matches what humans can perceive, making it the correct descriptor of visible light. The other ranges lie outside the visible spectrum: 1–10 nm are X-rays, 1 m–10 m are radio waves, and 700–1000 nm are near-infrared, which is not visible to the eye.

Visible light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can detect. It sits roughly between 400 and 700 nanometers. Wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm are ultraviolet and invisible, while wavelengths longer than about 700 nm are infrared and also invisible. Within 400–700 nm, different wavelengths correspond to the colors we see, from violet at the shorter end to red at the longer end. The range 400–700 nanometers matches what humans can perceive, making it the correct descriptor of visible light. The other ranges lie outside the visible spectrum: 1–10 nm are X-rays, 1 m–10 m are radio waves, and 700–1000 nm are near-infrared, which is not visible to the eye.