Electromagnetic Spectrum and Speed of Light
light constant
(c) the speed of light in a vacuum 3.0x10^8
speed of sound vs speed of light
-light travels almost a million times faster than sound -light travels around the earth 7.5 times per second
speed of light (c)
3.00 x 10^8 m/s
visible light wave length
400-700nm
transparent
Allowing light to pass through (clear)
gamma rays
Electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies
diffraction
The bending of a wave as it moves around an obstacle or passes through a narrow opening
Refraction of light
The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another
diffraction grating
a device made of thousands of closely spaced slits through which light is passed in order to produce a spectrum
microwave
a low frequency electromagnetic wave of radiant energy
thin film interference
a phenomenon in which a spectrum of colors is produced due to the constructive and destructive interference of light waves reflected in a thin film
Visible Light
an electromagnetic wave that stimulates the retina of the eye
law of reflection
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
complementary colors of light
any two colors that combine to form white light
cyan
blue and green
light
both particle and wave and travels FASTEST in a vacuum
white light
combination of all colors
complementary color of red
cyan
x-rays
electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet rays, but longer than gamma rays
de-excitation
high energy to low energy, emission of a photon
spectroscope
is used to measure light from glowing elements and separate that light into its various frequencies (determine the elemental composition of heated gases or materials using the spectra they emit)
index of refraction
light of different wavelengths is refre=acted at different angles
polarization of light
light whose waves oscillate only in a single plane (polarized sunglasses) red-oscillating magnetic waves blue-oscillating electric waves yellow-direction of wave movement
complementary color of green
magenta
relative speed
magnitude of the difference between the velocities of light source and observer of light
black light
no color
opaque
not letting light through
light emission
occurs with electron movement from HIGHER TO LOWER energy levels
retina
part of the eye that sees color
the order of rays
radio, micro, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma
magenta
red and blue
yellow
red and green
primary colors of light
red, green, blue
secondary pigment colors
red, green, blue
infrared waves
second on the electromagnetic spectrum going from lowest to highest frequency, can be felt as heat
translucent
semitransparent
red-shifted
the light source moves AWAY from you, there is a decrease in the measured frequency, so the wavelength lengthens (LOWER FREQUENCY)
blue-shifted
the light source moves TOWARD you, there is an increase in measured frequency so the wavelength of light shortens (blue) (HIGHER FREQUENCY)
longitudinal wave
the medium moves parallel to the direction of wave movement
transverse wave
the medium moves perpendicular to the direction of wave movement
light speed through objects
the more dense the slower it takes light to shine through
electromagnetic spectrum
the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation exists
EM spectrum
the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.
doppler shift
the shift to a different wavelength
cones and rods
two types of photoreceptors that help you see color
Un-polarized light
vibrations producing light are in random directions
mechanical waves
waves that require a medium through which to travel
excitation
when electrons have high energy levels
complementary color of blue
yellow
primary pigment colors
yellow, magenta, cyan
secondary colors of light
yellow, magenta, cyan
