Chapter 2 and 3.2-3.3 Flashcards
(125 cards)
What is electromagnetic radiation?
the energy that behaves like a wave and travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, it is LIGHT in a 3D sense
Light traveling includes what
magnetic and electric fields at the same time
What are the 3 characteristics of waves?
wavelengths, frequency. speed
What is the wavelength symbol?
λ (lambda)
What is a wavelength?
distance between 2 peaks in a wave
I—l
/\ /\
What are wavelengths measured in?
meters
What is the symbol for frequency?
v
What is frequency measured in?
1/seconds or just seconds^-1
What is speed measured in?
meters/seconds
What is a frequency?
number of cycles that pass through a point in space, how many cycles there are in a given time frame
What is the speed in terms of waves?
how fast the waves travel
What is the equation for the speed of light?
c = λv
What is the constant for light?
c = 2.998 x 10^8
What is the highest point in a wave called?
amplitude
The relationship between wavelength and frequency is
inversely related
The longer the wavelength, the ___ the frequency
the longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency
The shorter the wavelength, the ____ the frequency
the shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
includes gamma rays, x rays, uv light, visible light, infrared, microwaves, radiowaves (FM AM)
What does AM stand for?
amplitude modulation
What does FM stand for?
frequency modulation
What is interference?
how well two waves are able to communicate with one another
What are the two types of interference?
constructive interference and destructive interference
What is constructive interference?
when two waves are parallel to one another and line up to form a wave with higher amplitude ( creates light spots)
What is destructive interference?
when the trough and peak of two waves are touching, forming a straight line and no light