Light Flashcards
What is frequency?
The rate at which the electric and magnetic fields change.
What is wavelength?
The distance between adjacent peaks of the electric or magnetic field
What is light? According to the electromagnetic radiation model?
Visible Light: Light carries energy and is a consequence of interactions between particles of matter, or matter and light itself. Light= Radiative Energy Light waves are electric and magnetic disurbances oriented at an angle perpendicular to the travel direction.
How does photon energy relate to frequency and wavelength?
All elementary particles, whether light, electrons, protons, etc exhibit some behaviors that are wave-like and some that are particle like. c=vλ
What is a electromagnetic spectrum?
The complete spectrum of light, including radiowaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays.
What is a continuum spectrum?
A spectrum that extends smoothly over a large frequency/ wavelength/energy range.
What causes spectral lines?
Each atomic element emits or absorbs light at specific energies (creating a line spectrum).
What is atom?
A massive positively charged nuclear core surrounded by negativley charged electrons
What is Nucleas?
Core containing neutrons (n) and positively charged protons (p).
What is a isotope?
Same element, different # of neutrons. The chemical (spectral) character is defined by the orbiting electrons (normally #e=#p) Ion=>#e(=/) #p
Relate Spectral lines energies to electron energy levels.
Since photons energies are directly proportional to frequency (or I/wavelength), each energy transition gives results in a specific spectral line.
