Electromagnetics and Radiation Summary

Light is a form of energy composed of photons, which are tiny packets of energy with zero mass and no charge, traveling at the speed of light.
Waves have amplitude (brightness), wavelength (color), and frequency (color and pitch).
The electromagnetic spectrum includes radiowaves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Non-ionizing radiation includes radiowaves, microwaves, infrared radiation, and visible light.
Ionizing radiation includes ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Light interacts with matter through vibration of electrons.
Transparent substances transmit light, translucent substances diffuse light, and opaque substances do not transmit light but absorb it.
Reflection is the change in direction of a wave bouncing off a surface, while refraction is the change in direction as it moves from one medium to another.

Nuclear radiation is emitted from the nuclei of unstable isotopes, which release radiation to achieve stability.
Atoms consist of a central nucleus (protons and neutrons) and outer orbitals (electrons).
Isotopes are alternate forms of the same atom with different numbers of neutrons.
Radioisotopes are unstable atoms that emit nuclear radiation.
Uranium-238 is a highly unstable isotope that undergoes a decay process to become stable.

Radioactive decay is the spontaneous change of unstable atoms, emitting ionizing particles and energy.
Half-life is the time taken for half the atoms in a radioactive substance to decay.

Nuclear fission is the splitting of an atomic nucleus, producing free neutrons and lighter nuclei.
Nuclear fusion is the joining of like-charged atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.
Radioactive emissions include alpha (α) radiation (2 protons, 2 neutrons, low penetration), beta (β) radiation (electrons, intermediate penetration), and gamma (γ) radiation (pure energy/photons, high penetration).