Question: what is infra red and the other colours of the rainbow?

Zoe Duck answered on 17 Jun 2010:

Infra red and visible light (the rainbow you see) are all part of the electromagetic spectrum. The electromagetic spectrum is a type of wave, that can travel at the speed of light and the wavelength gives distinct properties to the waves. The longest wavlengths are radio waves, followed by microwaves then infra red. Radio waves are used to trasmit signals over a large distance and as you probably know, microwaves are used to heat up food. Infra red waves also give off heat and usually come from the sun and are what makes us hot. Visible light comes next.
Getting on to shorter wavelengths we have ultra violet, which is the major cause of skin cancer, X-rays used in medicine and the shortest wavelengths are known as gamma rays. Gamma rays are usually emmitted by radioactive substances and also cause cancer.