At a wavelength of 470 nm, which of the following statements is most accurate?

• A. Light at 470 nm has a lower frequency than red light.
• B. Light at 470 nm is in the visible spectrum and appears blue.
• C. Light at 470 nm is in the infrared region.
• D. Light at 470 nm is ultraviolet radiation.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the visible spectrum range, which approximately spans wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm. Light within this range is visible to the human eye and appears in different colors depending on the wavelength.
2. Identify the color associated with a wavelength of 470 nm. Since 470 nm falls between 400 nm and 500 nm, it corresponds to the blue region of the visible spectrum.
3. Compare 470 nm to red light wavelengths, which are typically around 620 nm to 750 nm. Since 470 nm is shorter than red light wavelengths, its frequency is actually higher, because frequency and wavelength are inversely related.
4. Understand the regions outside the visible spectrum: infrared light has wavelengths longer than about 700 nm, and ultraviolet light has wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm. Since 470 nm is between these two, it is neither infrared nor ultraviolet.
5. Conclude that the statement 'Light at 470 nm is in the visible spectrum and appears blue' is the most accurate based on the wavelength's position within the electromagnetic spectrum.