DAY `13 AST 101: Exploring the Solar System - Light Concepts

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to the concepts of light as discussed in the AST 101 lecture notes.

Wavelength

The distance from one peak of a wave to the next peak.

Frequency

The number of times the electric field vibrates up and down per second.

Photon

A particle of light that carries energy proportional to its frequency.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of light, organized by wavelength, from gamma rays to radio waves.

Planck's Constant

A constant used to describe the quantization of energy in photons, valued at 6.6 x 10^-34 Joules x sec.

Thermal Emission

The process by which an object emits light based on its temperature.

Wein's Law

States that hotter objects emit light at shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies).

Visible Spectrum

The range of light wavelengths that are visible to the human eye, approximately from 380 nm to 700 nm.

Interference Patterns

Patterns created when light behaves as a wave, demonstrating constructive and destructive interference.

Light Absorption

The process by which an object takes in light rather than reflecting or transmitting it.

Light Transmission

The capability of a material to allow light to pass through it.

Continuous Spectrum

A spectrum that shows light across all wavelengths without gaps, associated with thermal radiation.

Scattering

The process by which light is spread out in different directions after interacting with small particles in the atmosphere.