5 Light And Electromagnetism Flashcards
(21 cards)
List the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing frequency.
• Radio waves
• Microwaves
• Infrared
• Visible light
• Ultraviolet
• X-rays
• Gamma rays
What are common uses of X-rays?
• Medical imaging
• Security scanning
What are the potential dangers of ultraviolet radiation?
• Can cause skin burns
• Increases the risk of skin cancer
What are the properties of electromagnetic waves?
• Transverse waves
• Travel at the same speed in a vacuum
• Transfer energy from a source to an absorber
• Can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed
What is the visible light spectrum?
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye, ranging from red (longest wavelength) to violet (shortest wavelength).
What is refraction?
The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
What is total internal reflection?
When light reflects entirely back into a medium instead of refracting, occurring when the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle.
What is the critical angle?
The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.
What are the types of lenses?
• Convex (converging) lenses: Bring light rays together
• Concave (diverging) lenses: Spread light rays apart
What is magnification?
The ratio of the image size to the object size, calculated using the formula: magnification = image height / object height.
What are radio waves used for?
Broadcasting, Communications
What are microwaves used for?
Cooking, Satellite transmissions
What is infrared radiation used for?
Heaters, Night vision equipment
What is visible light used for?
Optical fibres, Photography
What is ultraviolet radiation used for?
Fluorescent lamps
What are X-rays used for?
Security, Medical scans
What are gamma rays used for?
Sterilising medical equipment, Sterilising food
What are the dangers of microwaves?
Can cause internal heating of body tissue
What are the dangers of infrared radiation?
Can cause skin burns
What are the dangers of ultraviolet radiation?
Can damage surface cells, Can cause blindness
What are the dangers of gamma rays?
Can cause cancer, Can cause mutations
