Electromagnetic Spectrum and Light Properties: Physics Notes Review

What phenomenon occurs when light passes through a prism?

Refraction changes the directions of different colors or wavelengths of light.

What experiment did Thomas Young conduct in 1801?

He demonstrated the wave nature of light by passing it through two slits, creating an interference pattern.

What did James Clerk Maxwell prove about light in the 1860s?

He mathematically described light as oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

What is electromagnetic radiation composed of?

Oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are inseparable, having the same frequency and wavelength.

What is the wavelength range of visible light?

400 nm to 700 nm.

How does violet light differ from red light?

Violet light has a shorter wavelength than red light.

What is the relationship between color and wavelength for light?

Wavelength increases from violet to red.

What property do all forms of light share?

All forms of light are electromagnetic radiation.

What is a fundamental difference between X rays and radio waves?

They have very different wavelengths.

Where does visible light occupy in the electromagnetic spectrum?

Between infrared and ultraviolet.

Which electromagnetic waves have the shortest wavelengths?

Gamma rays.

What is refraction of light?

The change in direction of a light ray as it passes at an angle from one transparent material to another with a different optical density.

How does the speed of light in a vacuum compare to that in transparent materials?

The speed of light is constant in a vacuum but slower in materials like water and glass.

What is the wavelength of green light in meters?

500 billionths of a meter (500 nm).

What happens to the wavelength of a photon as its energy increases?

The higher-energy photon has a shorter wavelength.

What occurs in the photoelectric effect?

Electrons are ejected from a metal when light impinges on it, with greater numbers ejected as light intensity increases.

What is our current understanding of the nature of light?

Light displays both wave and particle behavior.

What type of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of 10 micrometers?

Infrared radiation.

What speed do radio waves travel through space?

At the speed of light, 3 × 10^8 m/s.

What two ranges of electromagnetic radiation are transparent to the Earth's atmosphere?

Visible and radio radiation.

What type of electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of 80 cm?

A radio wave.

How does a light ray bend when crossing a dense transparent material from air?

The light ray bends toward the perpendicular.

What happens to a light ray as it leaves glass and enters air?

The light ray bends away from the perpendicular.

What is the main reason for placing telescopes in space?

To avoid absorption and distortion of light by the Earth's atmosphere.