Spectrum

Spectrum refers to a range of different but related items, that form a set which can be ordered in a sequence. In the context of science and technology, it often refers to the range of all possible values of a physical quantity, such as light, sound, electromagnetic waves, etc.

Physics

In physics, a spectrum is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without steps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light after passing through a prism.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies (the spectrum) of electromagnetic radiation and their respective wavelengths and photon energies. The electromagnetic spectrum covers electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from below one hertz to above 10^25 hertz, corresponding to wavelengths from thousands of kilometers down to a fraction of the size of an atomic nucleus.

Biology

In biology, spectrum is used to classify something in or on a scale. For instance, the autism spectrum describes the range of symptoms and abilities that people with autism can have.

Computing

In computing, spectrum can refer to a range of frequencies or data rates in digital communication, or the range of colors that can be displayed by a computer screen.

See also

• Spectrum (disambiguation)
• Spectral theory
• Spectral sequence
• Spectral density
• Spectral power distribution

Spectrum Resources
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