Em Waves And Visisble Light Flashcards
Light is a form of wave. What kind of wave is it and what makes it special from the rest of the same kind of wave?
It’s an electromagnetic wave (EM), and unlike the others on the EM spectrum, light is the only one visible to us human
What makes up electromagnetic waves? What are they like? How are they formed?
They’re formed when electric and magnetic fields vibrate. They’re transverse, so are made up of frequencies and wavelength
How do EM waves transfer energy?
They transfer energy from a source to an absorber. And absorber is any type of material that can be used to absorb an incident particle- from an incident wave- any block of material. They’ll transfer the energy in their vibrations
List an example of a transfer of EM wave
For example: when a hot object (like hot to touch) transfers energy by sending out infrared rays which is to be absorbed by the air. So the air is an absorber and the hot object is a source
What is light made of? Natural light?
Natural light as in daylight is also known as white light. White light is a mixture of all the colours mixed together. Light is a range of colours.
(ITS A RANGE OF DIFF. TYPES OF WAVELENGTHS THAT WE PERCEIVE AS COLOURS)
What’s so special about colors that make up light?
Each, even when not making white light, has its own teenage of wavelength and frequency. It goes from red with low energy and an increase in wave LENGTH and a decrease of frequency to purple with high energy and an increase in frequency and increase wave LENGTH
So define light wave
EM waves, transverse oscillations (vibration) travelling though the electric, magnetic fields around us
True or false: can light go through anything?
Kind of, unlike sound, light can travel through a vacuum, and solids and gases.
What is a spectrum? What type of spectrums are associated with EM waves
A range or scale that’s continuous. The EM wave spectrum for all the EM waves. And for visible light, the light spectrum that shows colors
What does the light spectrum show?
All the colors light can be seen.
As you go up the EM wave spectrum (from radio to gamma) what changes?
There’s an increase of frequency and energy as you go from radio to gamma and a decrease of wave length as you go from radio to gamma
As you go up the light spectrum, (purple to red), what changes?
As you go from purple to red, there is a decrease in frequency, but an increase of wave LENGTH
What are the primary colors for light? And what about secondary?
Primary: blue, red, green
Secondary: cyan, magenta, yellow
What does color and transparency depend on in terms of light waves?
Color and transparency depends on absorbed wavelength.
When light hits objects, four things can happen. What are they?
Transmit, reflect, refract (that comes after transmission), absorb
