Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Vocabulary flashcards covering the properties of light, wave mechanics, the Electromagnetic Spectrum, and atmospheric light scattering.

Light

A form of energy that travels in waves.

Crest, Trough, Rest Position, and Amplitude

The components that make up the typical pattern of a wave.

Frequency ($f$)

The numbers of complete wavelengths that pass a given reference point in a given time, measured in Hertz ($Hz$).

Amplitude

The height of a wave from its base or rest position.

Wavelength ($\lambda$)

The distance from one location on a wave to the same location on the next wave, often measured in meters ($m$) or nanometers ($nm$).

Relationship between Frequency and Wavelength

An inverse relationship where as the wavelength ($\lambda$) decreases, the frequency ($f$) increases.

Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum

The total amount of energy radiated from the Sun, ranging from radio waves to gamma rays.

Radio waves

The component of the Electromagnetic Spectrum with the largest wavelength and lowest frequency.

Gamma rays

The component of the Electromagnetic Spectrum with the smallest wavelength and highest frequency.

Visible light

A small fraction of the electromagnetic radiation released by the Sun that human eyes are allowed to detect based on frequency and wavelength.

Red (Visible Light)

Light with a frequency of $4.3 \times 10^{14}\,Hz$ and a wavelength of approximately $700\,nm$.

Violet (Visible Light)

Light with a frequency of $7.5 \times 10^{14}\,Hz$ and a wavelength of approximately $400\,nm$.

Infrared radiation

Radiation produced by remote controls that is normally invisible to humans but can be seen using the camera function on some digital devices.

Blue Sky

A phenomenon caused by air scattering short-wavelength light down toward us in preference to long-wavelength light as sunlight passes through the air.

Red Sunset

Occurs when the Sun is tangent to the Earth and the light path is longer, causing short-wavelength light to be scattered out and leaving the longer red wavelengths.