Science Reviewer: EM Waves and Reflection of Light

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, equations, and constants for Electromagnetic Waves and Reflection of Light based on the reviewer sheet.

Electromagnetic Waves (EM Waves)

Transverse waves that travel through space and can also travel through a vacuum, consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to each other and to the direction of travel.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The full range of EM waves arranged from lower frequency, lower energy, and longer wavelength to higher frequency, higher energy, and shorter wavelength: Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, and Gamma rays.

Speed of Light ($c$)

A physical constant representing the speed at which EM waves travel in a vacuum, equal to $3.0 \times 10^8\,\text{m/s}$.

Planck's Constant ($h$)

A fundamental constant equal to $6.63 \times 10^{-34}\,\text{J}\cdot\text{s}$, used to calculate the energy of a photon.

Wave Speed Formula

$c = f\lambda$, where $c$ is the speed of light, $f$ is frequency in Hertz ($\text{Hz}$), and $\lambda$ is wavelength in meters ($\text{m}$).

Energy of a Photon Formula

$E = hf$, where $E$ is photon energy, $h$ is Planck's constant, and $f$ is frequency.

Red Light Spectrum

Visible light with a wavelength range of $620 - 750\,\text{nm}$ and an approximate frequency of $4.0 \times 10^{14} - 4.8 \times 10^{14}\,\text{Hz}$.

Violet Light Spectrum

Visible light with a wavelength range of $380 - 425\,\text{nm}$ and an approximate frequency of $7.1 \times 10^{14} - 7.9 \times 10^{14}\,\text{Hz}$.

First Law of Reflection

The angle of incidence ($\theta_i$) equals the angle of reflection ($\theta_r$).

Second Law of Reflection

The incident ray, reflected ray, and the normal line all lie in the same plane.

Plane Mirror

A flat mirror that forms a virtual, upright image that is the same size as the object and laterally inverted.

Concave Mirror (Converging)

A mirror curved inward that can form real or virtual images, inverted or upright images, with magnification greater than $1$, equal to $1$, or less than $1$.

Convex Mirror (Diverging)

A mirror curved outward that always forms virtual, upright, and reduced images with a wide field of view.

Mirror Equation

$\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{d_o} + \frac{1}{d_i}$, where $f$ is focal length, $d_o$ is object distance, and $d_i$ is image distance.

Focal Length Formula

$f = \frac{R}{2}$, where $f$ is focal length and $R$ is radius of curvature.

Magnification Equation

$m = \frac{h_i}{h_o} = -\frac{d_i}{d_o}$, where $h_i$ is image height, $h_o$ is object height, $d_i$ is image distance, and $d_o$ is object distance (a negative sign indicates an inverted image).

Total Separation Distance (TSD)

$\text{TSD} = d_o + d_i$, used in reflection problems when both object distance and image distance are measured from the mirror.