Electromagnetic Waves

• What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

  The range of electromagnetic waves
• What are electromagnetic waves classified as?

  Transverse waves
• How do electromagnetic waves oscillate?

  Perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
• What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

  $3 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}$
• How do electromagnetic waves behave in different mediums?

  They travel at different speeds
• What phenomenon occurs when electromagnetic waves change direction in different mediums?

  Refraction
• What are the seven basic types of electromagnetic waves?

  • Radio waves
  • Microwaves
  • Infrared
  • Visible light
  • Ultraviolet
  • X-rays
  • Gamma rays
• What differentiates the types of electromagnetic waves?

  Their wavelength and frequency
• How are wavelength and frequency related?

  They are inversely related
• Which electromagnetic wave has the largest wavelength?

  Radio waves
• Which electromagnetic wave has the smallest wavelength?

  Gamma rays
• What is the wavelength range for radio waves?

  Multiple kilometers
• What is the wavelength range for gamma rays?

  Less than a thousandth of a nanometer
• What part of the electromagnetic spectrum can humans detect?

  Visible light
• What do different wavelengths of visible light correspond to?

  Different colors
• What comes after violet in the electromagnetic spectrum?

  Ultraviolet
• What comes before red in the electromagnetic spectrum?

  Infrared
• Which types of electromagnetic waves can be ionizing?

  Ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays
• What are the two types of electromagnetic waves used in communication?

  Microwaves and radio waves
• Where do electromagnetic waves come from?

  They come from everywhere
• What can cause gamma rays to be emitted?

  Radioactive decay
• What can emit visible light, ultraviolet, and X-rays?

  Electrons dropping down energy levels
• What generates infrared radiation?

  Molecular vibrations
• What happens to electromagnetic waves when they come into contact with something?

  They can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted
• What might happen to some waves when they come into contact with a surface?

  Some might be reflected while others absorbed