Electromagnetic radiation

The range of electromagnetic frequencies. "UHF" means "ultra high frequency," VHF is "very high frequency". Both were formerly used for television in the USA.

Electromagnetic waves are waves that travel at the speed of light. They contain an electric field and a magnetic field and carry different amounts of energy.

Quantum mechanics developed from the study of electromagnetic waves, which include visible light seen in the colors of the rainbow, but also other waves including the more energetic and higher frequency waves like ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays plus the waves with longer wavelengths including infrared waves, microwaves and radio waves.

Some types of electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, can be harmful to your body. Ultraviolet rays are near the violet end of the light spectrum and infrared are near the red end. Infrared rays are heat rays and ultraviolet rays cause sunburn.

Despite the different names, the only real differences among these kind of electromagnetic radiation are their frequencies.

Sound waves are not electromagnetic waves but waves of pressure in air, water or any other substance.