In the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, which of the following has a greater wavelength than visible light?

Introduction / Context:
Electromagnetic radiation includes a wide range of waves with different wavelengths and frequencies, from very short wavelength gamma rays to very long wavelength radio waves. Visible light occupies only a small portion of this spectrum. Understanding which regions lie just beyond the visible range is a common physics and general science question. This question asks you to identify which type of radiation has a wavelength greater than that of visible light.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We compare different types of electromagnetic radiation with visible light.
• Options include ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, cosmic rays, X-rays, and gamma rays.
• We assume standard ordering of the electromagnetic spectrum by wavelength.
• Greater wavelength means longer wavelength and therefore lower frequency than visible light.

Concept / Approach:
In the electromagnetic spectrum, gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths, followed by X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves with the longest wavelengths. Ultraviolet rays have shorter wavelengths than visible light. Infrared rays have wavelengths longer than visible light and are felt as heat. Cosmic rays are extremely high energy particles and are associated with very short effective wavelengths, not longer ones. Gamma rays and X-rays also have shorter wavelengths than visible light. Therefore, the type of radiation with wavelength greater than visible light among the given options is infrared.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the approximate order of the electromagnetic spectrum from short to long wavelengths: gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwaves, radio waves. Step 2: Compare ultraviolet and infrared with visible light. Ultraviolet is just beyond visible violet and has shorter wavelength, while infrared is just beyond visible red and has longer wavelength. Step 3: Recognise that gamma rays, X-rays, and most cosmic radiation are very high energy, very short wavelength forms of radiation. Step 4: Since the question is asking for greater wavelength than visible light, eliminate ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, and cosmic rays, which all have shorter wavelengths. Step 5: The remaining option, infrared rays, lies on the long wavelength side of visible light. Step 6: Therefore, infrared rays have greater wavelength than visible light and are the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Physics textbooks often show diagrams of the electromagnetic spectrum marking the visible band between about 400 nanometres and 700 nanometres. They place ultraviolet below 400 nanometres and infrared above 700 nanometres. They also explain that humans perceive infrared mostly as heat radiation. This positional relationship confirms that infrared has longer wavelength than visible light.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ultraviolet rays: Lie just beyond the violet end of visible light and have shorter wavelengths than visible light. Cosmic rays: Very high energy radiation with extremely short effective wavelengths, shorter than even gamma rays. X-rays: Also shorter in wavelength than visible light and used in medical imaging. Gamma rays: Shortest wavelength and highest energy in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes reverse the order of ultraviolet and infrared or assume that all names that sound more exotic, like cosmic rays, must have larger wavelengths. To avoid confusion, memorise the proper order and remember that infrared is associated with heat and longer wavelengths, whereas ultraviolet is associated with higher energy and shorter wavelengths than visible light.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Infrared rays.