Light’s properties can be described in these terms.
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Electromagnetic Radiation
A form of energy that exhibits wavelike behavior as it travels through space. Examples include visible light, X-rays, ultraviolet and infrared light, microwaves, and radio waves.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
All the forms of electromagnetic radiation, often expressed on a form of number line.
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3.00*10^8 m/s
The speed of electromagnetic radiation through a vacuum.
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Wavelength
The distance between corresponding points on adjacent waves. Unit is any distance unit depending on the type of electromagnetic radiation.
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Frequency
The number of waves that pass a given point in a specific time, usually one second. Expressed in waves/second, which is also called a hertz (Hz)
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C=(Frequency)(Wavelength)
The mathematical relation between frequency and wavelength where C is a constant.
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Photoelectric Effect
Refers to the emission of electrons from a metal when light shines on the metal.
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Frequency
No electrons are emitted from a given metal if the light’s _______________ is below a certain minimum, regardless of intensity. Different metals need different values of this.
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Quantum (of Energy)
The minimum quantity of energy that can be lost or gained from an atom.
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Quanta
Small, specific packets of energy that are emitted from hot objects (or any object giving off energy).
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Photon
Particle of electromagnetic radiation having zero mass and carrying a quantum of energy.
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Whole Numbers
Electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by matter only in ___________ ___________ of photons.
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Ground State
The lowest energy state of an atom. Only one for atoms of a given element.
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Excited State
A state in which an atom has a higher potential energy than it has in its ground state. There are many possible of these with a unique energy.
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Given Off
Energy is _______ _______ in the form of electromagnetic radiation when an atom returns to a ground state or moves to a lower excited state from an excited state.
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Emission-Line Spectrum
When a narrow beam of emitted light is shined through a prism, it is separated into specific colors of the visible spectrum; those bands of light make up [an element]’s [this].
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Continuous Spectrum
The emission of a continuous range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
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Quantum Theory
Entirely new atomic theory that attempts to explain why hydrogen atoms only give off specific frequencies of light.
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Fixed
When an electron is in an orbit/energy level, the atom’s energy is _______.
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Lowest
An [hydrogen] atom is in its ___________ energy state when its electron is in the energy level nearest the nucleus.
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Increases
The energy of the electron ____________ as it moves farther away from the nucleus.
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Gaining
An electron can move to a higher-energy orbit by __________ energy equal to the difference in energy between the orbits.
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Emission
Process by which an electron falls to a lower energy level and releases a photon; the photon’s energy is equal to the energy difference between the levels.
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Absorption
Process by which energy is added to an atom in order to move an electron from a lower energy level to a higher energy level.
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