Topic 5 - Light And The Electromagnetic Spectrum - Em Waves Flashcards
What do all electromagnetic waves transfer?
Energy from source to observer
This includes energy transfer from sources like microwaves to food.
What type of waves are electromagnetic waves?
Transverse waves
Transverse waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
Do all electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum?
Yes
All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.
What is the wavelength range of radio waves?
10^0 meters
Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is the wavelength range of microwaves?
10^3 meters
Microwaves are shorter than radio waves but longer than infrared waves.
What is the wavelength range of infrared waves?
10^5 meters
Infrared waves are used in various applications, including remote controls and thermal imaging.
What is the wavelength range of visible light?
Approximately 10^7 to 10^8 meters
This range corresponds to the light visible to the human eye.
What is the wavelength range of X-rays?
10^10 meters
X-rays are used in medical imaging due to their ability to penetrate soft tissue.
What is the wavelength range of gamma rays?
10^12 meters
Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths and are highly energetic.
Fill in the blank: Electromagnetic waves are characterized by _______.
wavelength and frequency
Wavelength and frequency are inversely related; as one increases, the other decreases.
True or False: Increasing frequency corresponds to decreasing wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.
True
This relationship is fundamental to understanding the electromagnetic spectrum.
Do EM waves need particles to move?
No
What is the velocity of all waves in space?
Speed of light
What can EM waves transfer from a source to an absorber?
Energy
Give an example of an EM wave transferring energy from a source to an absorber.
Microwave source to food
Another example is the sun emitting energy to Earth.
What type of light can our eyes detect?
Visible light
How do materials interact with EM waves?
Differently depending on the wavelength
What can glass do with visible light, UV, and IR?
Transmit visible light, reflect/absorb UV and IR
What is constant for all EM waves in a vacuum?
Speed
What happens to frequency as wavelength decreases?
Frequency must increase
What is the relationship between frequency and energy of a wave?
As frequency increases, energy of the wave increases
What do all bodies emit?
Radiation
How does temperature affect radiation emission?
The higher the temperature, the more intense (and more wavelengths) will be emitted
