SONG: Mr Lightside - Horrible Science

Time to light up your day by singing about the electromagnetic spectrum with Sir Isaac Newton and Horrible Science. From microwaves to gamma rays, this song will blow your mind!

The electromagnetic spectrum is a group of different kinds of waves, including:

They go from a loooonnng wavelength to a short wavelength, and all have different properties. For example, X-rays let us see inside solid objects, like your bodies, but they can't go through bone...that's how you see your spooky skeleton! 🦴🩻  Check out Horrible Science's Mr Lightside song to hear about all the others. 🎵

(ISAAC NEWTON)

They’re coming out of your phone, they can travel through walls,

It’s a radiowave, sending TV and calls.

Next are microwaves,

And they’re cooking my tea,

And the fact they do that was found out accidentally.

They’re coming out of the fire,

They’re coming out of the Sun,

An infrared ray feels hot, but you can not see one,

Also out at the Sun, it’s so dazzling and white,

You should all know this one,

It is visible light.

Now, what do we call this now, do you know?

The electromagnetic spectrum,

All the light we know,

Radiowave, microwave is next,

You know, then infrared,

That’s heat to me,

Visible light that we can see,

Ultraviolet, tans our skin,

X-Rays let us see within,

Gamma rays will blow your mind!

They’re all the light kinds.

And now ultraviolet light, it’s a part of sunshine,

We’ve known UV makes you tan since 1889,

It’s coming out of the Sun,

And it’s burning my skin,

I’m applying sun cream,

So ultraviolet won’t win.

Through your skin and your flesh,

We can fire X-Rays,

But they’re stopped by the bones,

Your insides on display,

Gamma rays are light too, but a dangerous kind,

If you get up too close,

They’ll leave damage behind,

Now, what do we call this now, do you know?

The electromagnetic spectrum,

All the light we know,

Radio, microwave is next,

You know, then infrared,

That’s heat to me,

Visible light that we can see,

Ultraviolet tans our skin,

X-Rays let us see within,

Gamma rays will blow your mind!

They’re all the light kinds.

Sir Isaac Newton was an english physicist, astronomer and all round smartypants who helped discover a lot of things (including gravity, if you've heard of it!) as well as helping set the foundations for the discovery of the electromagnetic spectrum.

He helped to change the way we understand the universe (what a guy!). Want to hear more from Sir Isaac Newton and his musical friends? Well, they've got a brand-new song for you, all about gravity. 🍎

Play the best Horrible Science games and quizzes, only on the CBBC website:

What about X-rays and bones with Operation Ouch? 

🎥 iPLAYER: Watch Horrible Science on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.