Mississippi Science PHY.4.9

ScienceGrades 9–12Physics

The Standard

Research the different bands of electromagnetic radiation, including characteristics, properties, and similarities/differences.

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Waves

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students research the main bands of electromagnetic radiation and compare their wavelengths, frequencies, energies, and uses. They explain what the bands share and how they differ.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can put the bands in order by wavelength and explain that frequency and photon energy increase as wavelength decreases. They can give a use for each band and explain that all electromagnetic waves travel through a vacuum.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think only visible light is electromagnetic radiation. They may also think a longer wavelength means more energy, or that all radiation is harmful.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Put radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, and X-rays in order of increasing frequency. Circle the highest-energy band and name one property all five share.

Lesson moves

Shine a flashlight through a prism onto white paper, then have students sketch the colors and label them as visible light.
Ask pairs: If radio waves and X-rays travel at the same speed in a vacuum, why do they have different uses?
Give teams seven band cards and have them race to order them from longest wavelength to shortest, then check with a reference chart.
Have students read a sunscreen label and a local UV index forecast, then write which band the sunscreen targets.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHY.4.9, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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