Electromagnetic radiation common wavelength units

TABLE 6.1 Common Wavelength Units for Electromagnetic Radiation ... 

Figure 9-7 The span of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation used in spectroscopic investigations of organic compounds along with comparison of some of the various units commonly employed for wavelength and energy of the radiation on log scales...

This is not really very complicated and it applies equally well to water waves or electromagnetic radiation. What is almost needlessly complicated is the variety of units commonly used to express k and v for electromagnetic radiation. One problem is tradition, the other is the desire to avoid very large or very small numbers. Thus, as Figure 9-7 shows, we may be interested in electromagnetic wavelengths that differ by as much as a factor of 1016. Because the velocity of electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum is constant at 3 X 108 meters sec-1, the frequencies will differ by the same factor. 

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