em spectrum and light study

electromagnetic waves

transverse wave consisting of changing electric fields and changing magnetic fields (may or may not travel through a medium) and traveling at c (3.00x10⁸ m/s)

electric field

a region in space that exerts electric forces on charged particles

magnetic field

a region of space that exerts magnetic forces

photoelectric effect

the emission of electrons from a metal caused by light striking the metal

photons

the fundamental particle and smallest possible unit of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation

intensity

the rate at which a wave’s energy flows through a given unit of area

electromagnetic spectrum

the full range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation

amplitude modulation

a signal processing technique where the amplitude of a high-frequency carrier wave is varied in proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of a message signal, such as audio

frequency modulation

a method of transmitting information by varying the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave according to the pattern of the information signal

thermograms

color-coded-pictures that show variations in temperature

transparent material

a substance that allows light to pass through it, permitting objects on the other side to be seen clearly without scattering

translucent material

allows light to pass through but diffuses it, so objects beyond are not seen clearly

image

a copy of an object formed by reflected waves of light

regular reflection

when parallel light waves strike a surface and reflects all in the same direction

diffuse reflection

when parallel light waves strike a rough, uneven surface, and reflects in many different directions

refraction

the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, which happens because the light's speed changes

mirage

a false or distorted image

polarized light

light with waves that vibrate in only one plane

scattering

light is redirected as it passes through a medium