IB Physics Electromagnetic Waves Vocabulary

Electromagnetic Waves

Oscillations of electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space and travel at the speed of light and the two waves must be perpendicular to each other.

What is the only 2 differences between the various electromagnetic waves on the spectrum?

Wavelength and frequency of the wave

Why do electromagnetic waves occur?

Electromagnetic waves occur due to the oscillation of electric charges, which generate changing electric fields that induce magnetic fields, resulting in the propagation of the waves through space

What are two waves to produce an electromagnetic wave?

An electric charge is accelerated or when an electro moves from a higher to a lower energy state in an atom

What is refraction?

When light passes from one medium to another, it changes direction.

What is the angle of incidence?

The angle between the incident ray and the normal line at the point of incidence on a surface.

Outline the nature of electromagnetic waves

They all travel at the speed of light and wavelengths and frequency are inversely proportional.

Diffraction meaning

Bending of rays around obstacles or through openings, causing spreading of waves of all direction.

Constructive Interference

Two waves traveling in the same direction overlap, and their crests combine to produce a larger wave.

Destructive Interference

Two waves traveling in the same direction are aligned causing the waves to cancel out.

Path Length Difference

Difference in distance from 2 sources to point in space.