Electromagnetic Spectrum Explorer

Interactive learning tool for understanding the electromagnetic spectrum

An interactive web application for exploring the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays. This educational tool provides real-time visualization, unit conversion, and comprehensive information.

React JavaScript Vite Data Visualization
View on GitHub Live Demo
Screenshot of Electromagnetic Spectrum Explorer

The Problem

Physics education often relies on static diagrams that fail to convey the vast scale of the electromagnetic spectrum. Students struggle to understand the relationships between wavelength, frequency, and energy across 20+ orders of magnitude.

The Solution

Built an interactive visualization that uses logarithmic scaling to represent the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Real-time unit conversion and region-specific educational content help users explore the physics of light and radiation.

The Results

  • Interactive exploration from gamma rays to radio waves
  • Real-time conversion between wavelength, frequency, and energy
  • NIST-certified physical constants for scientific accuracy
  • Educational content for each spectrum region
20+ orders
Spectrum Range
7
Regions
NIST
Accuracy
Real-time
Calculations

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Explorer is an interactive web application for exploring the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays. An educational tool providing real-time visualization and comprehensive information.

Spectrum Explorer

Visible Light
550 nm
Gamma Radio

Frequency: 545 THz

Energy: 2.25 eV

The visible spectrum is the portion of electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye.

Key Features

  • Full Spectrum Coverage: From radio waves to gamma rays
  • Real-Time Visualization: Interactive spectrum display with logarithmic scaling
  • Unit Conversion: Convert between wavelength, frequency, and energy
  • Educational Content: Comprehensive information for each band
  • Scientific Accuracy: NIST-certified physical constants

Technical Implementation

The application implements robust physics calculations:

export const PHYSICS_CONSTANTS = {
  SPEED_OF_LIGHT: 299792458, // m/s (exact)
  PLANCK_CONSTANT: 6.62607015e-34, // J*s (exact)
  PLANCK_CONSTANT_EV: 4.135667696e-15, // eV*s
};

export function wavelengthToFrequency(wavelength) {
  return SPEED_OF_LIGHT / wavelength;
}

The logarithmic visualization enables smooth interaction across scales spanning from femtometers to kilometers.

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