Table of Electromagnetic Radiation Frequencies
The following table summarizes the radiation frequency (cycles per second or Hertz or Hz) and wavelengths (physical length of waves) for various types of electromagnetic radiation sources such as radio waves, microwaves, light, and x-rays. The EM range or EM frequencies extend from a low end of about 1 kHz to 2.4×1023 Hz. - Wikipedia 6/10.
Summary Table of Frequencies of Electromagnetic Radiation
Type of Electromagnetic Radiation Source
Arranged in order of increasing frequency (decreasing wavelength)
Radiation
Wavelength in Meters
Arranged in order of decreasing wavelength. Wavelength is defined here as the distance covered by one cycle of a wave.
Electromagnetic Frequency (Hertz1)
Arranged in order of increasing frequency .
Frequency is defined here as the number of waves per second passing a given point or location.
EMF/ULF: electromagnetic field source from typical residential electrical power
Household electrical current, home wiring, electric meters, service entry cables.
Power Transmission lines Note that power transmission lines and home 120V or 240V appliances operating on 60 cycle alternating current are working at a frequency included in th3e ULF range described just below.
50 Hz or 60 Hz alternating electrical current
To measure in this range see
and also see
Ultra Low Frequency Radiation
ULF
Used in mining communications below ground, seismic monitoring, secure military communications via ground transmission These are the longest electromagnetic waves, geomagnetic pulsations, micropulsations. Wavelength may be 5000 x radius of the earth
1 Hz up to 1kHz
Most sources: under 300 Hz
Other sources:
0.01 to 3 Hz
1 Hz to below 300 Hz
period of 100 seconds
Very Low Frequency Radiation VLF
Used for radio navigation, submarine communication, geophysical surveys, some natural emissions
10,000 meter band,
Myriameter wave
2 kHz up to 30 kHz
Other sources:
3 kHz up to 30 kHz
Myriameter band
Low Frequency Radiation - range of human hearing Frequency range of human hearing, in sound pressure variations per second
12 Hz up to 20 kHz or about 15 to 20,000 cycles. [4] That is, from about 12 cycles per second up to 20,000 cycles per second.
Some sources place the human auditory threshold at 3 cycles/sec.
Low Frequency Radiation
LF
Used for aircraft navigation, LORAN, weather, time signals
1,000 meter band,
Kilometer wave
30 kHz up to 300 kHz
AM broadcasting in Europe & other areas
Longwave band, kilometer band
Medium Frequency MF
AM Radio Waves
AM and other Radio broadcasting, electrons oscillating in an antenna.
103 down to 10-1
100 meter band, Hectometer wave
300 kHz up to 3 MHz - 106 up to 109
530 kHz to 1600 kHz AM radio Broadcast band
Hectometer band
High Frequency HF
AM Radio Waves
AM Radio broadcasting, electrons oscillating in an antenna.
100 meters down to one meter - 103 down to 10-1 (one meter)
10 meter band, Decameter wave
3 MHz up to 30 MHz
Decameter band
To measure in this range see
Very High Frequency VHF
FM Radio & TV Waves
FM Radio and TV broadcasting, electrons oscillating in an antenna. 1 meter band 30 MHz up to 300 MHz -
Ultra High Frequency UHF
FM & TV Radio Waves
Mobile phones - cell phones, 3-G wireless, satellite communications
Radio and TV broadcasting,
Cell phones, Cell towers, (RF or "radiofrequency" waves, or loosely, "microwaves")
Satellite communications;
Electrons oscillating in an antenna.
* The current US exposure standard for cell site radiation in the US is 580-1000 microwatts per square centimetre.
1 meter down to 10 cm
300 MHz up to 3 GHz -
Cordless phones - roughly 100-900 MHz
Cell phones - GSM 380- 1990 MHz
Cell phones - TACS 900 MHz (Europe)
Cell phones - other designs: 450MHz
Radar - marine, low end units operate at 3 GHz
Typical 4-band cell phone: 850/900./1800/1900 MHz
To measure in this range see
Extremely High Frequency EHF
Microwaves
Molecular rotation, plasma oscillation 10-1 down to 10-4 meters
30-300 Gigahertz GHz - 109 up to 1012
Marine Radar operates typically from about 2 GHz up to 10 GHz
To measure in this range see
Infrared
Molecular rotation, plasma oscillation 10-4 down to 0.7 ×10-6 Terahertz THz - 1012 up to 1015
Visible light
Molecular electron excitation - interaction with human eye retinal cells 0.7 ×10-6 down to 0.4 ×10-6 1015
Ultraviolet light
Molecular & atomic electron excitation 0.4 ×10-6 down to 10-8 1015 up to 1017
X-rays
Excitation & ejection of core atomic electrons 10-8 down to 10-12 1017 up to 1021
Notes to the table above
See our table comparing different Hertz frequency ranges at Hertz - Definitions of KHz MHz GHz THz
How do we get to "approximately the speed of light" for data in the electromagnetic radiation wavelengths and frequencies above? For a given electromagnetic wave, multiplying the wavelength by wave frequency for any given electromagnetic signal will equal to roughly the speed of light.
Definitions: One Hz or Herz = one cycle per second or one "wave" per second passing a given point
One kHz or Kilohertz = one thousand cycles per second or 1000 waves per second
One MHz or Megahertz = one million waves or cycles per second
One GHZ or Gigahertz = one billion waves or cycles per second passing a given point
Range of human hearing, citations:
Cutnell, John D. and Kenneth W. Johnson. Physics. 4th ed. New York: Wiley, 1998: 466.
"Body, Human." The New Book of Knowledge. New York: Grolier, 1967: 285.
Caldarelli, David D. and Ruth S. Campanella. Ear. World Book Online Americas Edition. 26 May 2003.
