Physics - Electromagnetic Waves and Electromagnetic Spectrum

Electromagnetic Spectrum

name for the range of electromagnetic waves when placed in order of frequency and wavelength.

Radio Waves

are waves that has the lowest frequency and longest wavelength

Gamma Rays

are waves that has the highest frequency and the shortest wavelength

Cosmic Rays

these rays are produced by stars such as the sun. One of the examples of Cosmic Rays are aurora borealis or the northern lights.

X-Rays

are wavelengths with 10 nm to 0.01m, these rays have enough energy to penetrate deep into tissues and can cause damage to cells

André-Marie Ampère

the one who demonstrated the magnetic effect based on the direction of the current

Michael Faraday

the one who formulated the principle behind electromagnetic induction

Rays

light waves that travels in straight lines

Reflection

is the change in direction of a wave front at an interface between two different media so that the wave front returns into the medium from which it originated

Refraction

is the change in direction of wave propagation due to a change in its transmission medium

Dispersion

a phenomenon in which the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency

Diffraction

is the spreading of light after it passes around the edge of an object

Absorption

the light wave could be absorbed by the object, in which case its energy is converted to heat (THERMAL ENERGY).

Center of Curvature (C)

the center of the sphere

Vertex (V)

the center of the mirror

Radius of Curvature (R)

the distance between the vertex and the center of curvature

Focal Point (F)

the point which reflected rays meet

Focal Length (f)

the distance of the vertex to the focal point

Principal Axis

a line passing through the center of a lens or a mirror

EM Waves

are Transverse Waves without a medium. They travel in electrical and magnetic fields