Physical Science - Chapter 21

Visible light

electromagnetic waves that humans can see.

Photon

a wave bundle, or particle, of electromagnetic energy.

Microwave

a wave from the upper end of the radio wave band.

Gamma ray

a high- energy photon that is emitted from a nucleus when a radioactive isotope experiences gamma decay.

Ultraviolet wave

an electromagnet wave that is just beyond (more energetic than) violet visible light.

X ray

photograph taken with .

Amplitude modulation

the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the amplitude of the wave.

Frequency modulation

the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the frequency of the wave.

electromagnetic wave

a disruption in an electromagnet field that carries energy, even through the vacuum of space

photon

a wave bundle, or particle, of electromagnetic energy

electromagnetic spectrum

the entire range of all electromagnetic wave s

Radio wave

the longest and lowest energy type of electromagnet wave

Frequency

3 Hz to 300 GHz

Wavelengths

100 000 km to 1 mm

Uses

navigation, communication

Microwave

a wave from the upper end of the radio wave band

Frequency

300 MHz to 300 GHz

Wavelengths

1 m to 1 mm

Uses

navigation, communication, astronomy, cooking

Visible light

electromagnetic waves that humans can see

Frequency

430 THz to 790 THz

Wavelengths

700 nm to 380 nm

Ultraviolet wave

an electromagnet wave that is just beyond (more energetic than) violet visible light

Frequency

790 THz to 30 PHz

Wavelengths

380 nm to 10 nm

Uses

medical treatment, dentistry, killing bacteria

X-ray

photograph taken with x-ray

Frequency

30 PHz to 30 EHz

Wavelength

10 nm to 10 pm

Uses

medical imagery, transportation security, nondestructive inspection

Gamma ray

a high-energy photon that is emitted from a nucleus when a radioactive isotope experiences gamma decay

Frequency

above 30EHz

Wavelengths

10 pm down to 1 fm

Uses

medical treatment, astronomy

amplitude modulation

the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the amplitude of the wave

frequency modulation

the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the frequency of the wave

electromagnetic wave

a disruption in an electromagnet field that carries energy, even through the vacuum of space

electromagnetic spectrum

the entire range of all electromagnetic wave s

radio wave

the longest and lowest energy type of electromagnet wave