Electromagnetic Spectrum and Light Waves

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the electromagnetic spectrum and types of light waves as discussed in the lecture.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light.

Visible Light

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be seen by the human eye.

Roy G. Biv

An acronym representing the colors of the visible spectrum: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

Infrared Waves

Longer waves that result in heat, felt but not seen in sunlight.

Microwaves

Waves used in microwaves to heat food, also a type of heat wave.

Radio Waves

Very long waves that pass through objects and are generally harmless.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Invisible light that can cause sunburns due to its high energy.

X Rays

High-energy waves that can penetrate through the body, used in medical imaging.

Gamma Rays

The most harmful rays on the electromagnetic spectrum, usually blocked by the atmosphere.

Red Shift

The phenomenon where light from distant stars is shifted toward the red end of the spectrum, indicating that they are moving away from us.

Light Years

A unit of distance, representing how far light travels in one year, approximately 5.88 trillion miles.