Physics of Light, Waves, and Electromagnetic Radiation: Key Concepts and Phenomena

LED

Which of these lamps employs semiconductor technology?

Total internal reflection

What phenomenon is extensively used in fiber optics and many photonic devices?

Gamma rays

X-rays are similar to what type of radiation?

Shiny metals

Why are metals shiny?

Wave nature of light

What does Thomas Young's double slit experiment demonstrate?

White

If neon energy levels were not discrete, neon signs would glow what color?

Oscillating electric and magnetic fields

Electromagnetic waves consist of what fields?

Law of reflection

What is the law of reflection?

Particle theory of light

Did Einstein's photoelectric explanation support wave or particle theory?

Coherent photons

How do photons in a laser differ from those in an incandescent lamp?

Invisible

Most electromagnetic waves are what?

Phosphorescent

A watch dial glowing after a week is likely what?

Much faster

In air, radio waves travel how compared to sound?

Fluorescence vs. phosphorescence

What's the difference between fluorescence and phosphorescence?

Microwaves

Which photons have lower energy: microwaves or X-rays?

Two bands

If electrons behaved only like particles in a double slit, what would appear on the screen?

Both arrive at the same time

If light and radio signals left Alpha Centauri, which arrives first?

Alpha -2, Beta +1, Gamma 0

What change in atomic number occurs in alpha, beta, and gamma decay?

Visible light

Glass is transparent to what type of light?

E = h f

What equation relates photon energy to frequency?

Coherent light

How does coherent light differ from sunlight?

Phosphors emit visible light

What causes white light in fluorescent lamps?

Hot surfaces

A mirage occurs mostly over what kinds of road surfaces?

Radioactivity in Earth's interior

What is the main source of Earth's internal heat?

Lead

Natural uranium decays into what element?

Yes, due to potassium-40

Is the human body radioactive?

Light travels through vacuum

Why can we see stars at night?

Sound wave

Which wave cannot travel in a vacuum?

Highest frequency and energy

Rays with the shortest wavelength have what frequency and energy?

Red

Which color passes through red glass?

Yes, this is wrong

Which statement is WRONG: light travels as particles and hits like waves?

Electrons

Quantum uncertainties are only significant for what object?

Increases

What happens to light speed when moving from water into air?

Sound waves

Which is fundamentally different from the others: sound waves or EM waves?

Engineers, surgeons, mechanics, aviators

Optical fibers are used by which professions?

Polarization

What phenomenon distinguishes transverse waves from longitudinal waves?