Here is an example of one way to represent the different types of electromagnetic radiation . Quipus A very interesting and non-traditional way to identify each type of radiation in a spectrum is to create a Quipu that contains complete information is a mysterious way of coding and decoding any type of data in a very compact manner. This method was used by the ancient Incas. After quipus are constructed, groups can exchange them and try to decipher the coded information by analyzing how the strings are grouped together, how many strings there are in each group, and according to what pattern the knots are arranged. Here is an example of an electromagnetic spectrum quipu based on frequency.
First string represents the speed of light.
It is considered to be a key string that gives the idea of how to insert numbers with scientific notations using different types of knots. The next, and perhaps, central part of this unit is a detailed description of each type of radiation and how astronomers use electromagnetic radiation as a probe to study different objects in our Universe. Here is a diagram that can be useful in a simplified discussion of how the hydrogen atom absorbs and emits radiation . In this diagram you can see how continuum, emission and absorption spectra are produced by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with a gas such as hydrogen. Here is an example of a continuum spectrum from a white dwarf star called HZ43, taken with the EUVE satellite.