Light and Quantized Energy Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering light, wave properties, electromagnetic spectrum, Bohr's planetary model, photons, and atomic spectra.

Electromagnetic radiation

Energy that travels as waves through space, including light, radio waves, cell phone signals, X-rays, and UV light.

Wavelength ($\lambda$)

The distance between 2 equal points on a wave, measured crest to crest or trough to trough, expressed in meters ($\text{m}$) or nanometers ($\text{nm}$).

Frequency ($\nu$)

The number of wavelengths that pass a certain point in 1 second, measured in units of $1/\text{s}$, $\text{s}^{-1}$, Hertz ($\text{Hz}$), or kilohertz ($\text{kHz}$).

Wavelength and frequency relationship

An inverse relationship where as one variable increases, the other decreases.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The arrangement of all various forms of electromagnetic radiation, ranging from big wavelength and low frequency to short wavelength and high frequency.

White light

Light containing all visible wavelengths that produces a rainbow appearance when passed through a prism.

Planetary model

Bohr's model theorizing that electrons exist in specific energy levels and emit specific colors of light when transitioning between these levels.

Photon

A particle that emits light energy, whose wavelength determines its energy level and color.

Absorbing a photon

The process in which an electron gains energy and jumps to a higher energy level.

Emitting a photon

The process in which an electron falls to a lower energy level, releasing light energy observed as colored light.

Red light

Light that possesses a longer wavelength and lower energy compared to blue light.

Atomic emission spectrum

A pattern of lines of different colors separated by dark areas, unique to every element, which can be used to identify elements.

Atomic absorption spectrum

A spectrum formed when electrons absorb specific photons of light to transition from lower to higher energy levels.