Physics Flashcards Part 1
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Questions and Answers

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A stream of photons moving in a wavelike pattern, carries energy and spreads out.

What is wave-particle duality?

It refers to the concept that light may behave like a wave or a particle.

What are photons?

Tiny packets of energy.

What is a cycle in terms of waves?

<p>The entire pattern of a wave before it repeats itself.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is frequency defined?

<p>The number of cycles a wave repeats in a second.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What unit measures frequency?

<p>Hertz (Hz)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to frequency when the wavelength increases?

<p>It decreases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of rays have the highest energy?

<p>Gamma rays</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of rays have the lowest energy?

<p>Radio waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are electromagnetic waves composed of?

<p>Electric and magnetic fields.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What produces electric fields?

<p>Charged particles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What produces magnetic fields?

<p>Moving electric charges.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who proposed the idea that a changing electric field produces a magnetic field?

<p>James Clerk Maxwell</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who were credited with the development of applications in communication?

<p>Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the theory of electromagnetism lead to?

<p>Maxwell's equations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered radio waves and when?

<p>Heinrich Hertz in 1886</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are radio waves usually described?

<p>In wavelengths or frequencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the wavelength range of radio waves?

<p>1 millimeter to 100 kilometers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the order of increasing energy of the electromagnetic spectrum?

<p>Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does ultraviolet mean?

<p>Beyond violet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered ultraviolet light?

<p>Johann William Ritter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does white light contain?

<p>All colors in combination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is black in terms of light?

<p>A total absence of light.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What specifies the range of visible light?

<p>The very narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum perceived by the human eye.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the wavelength range of near infrared?

<p>0.78 to about 2.5 micrometers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the wavelength range of middle infrared?

<p>2.5 to about 50 micrometers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the wavelength range of far infrared?

<p>50 to 1000 micrometers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does infrared radiation mean?

<p>Below red.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered infrared radiation?

<p>Frederick William Herschel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is radio detection and ranging used for?

<p>Determining the distance of objects such as clouds, aircraft, and land elevations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where do microwaves lie in relation to radio waves and infrared waves?

<p>Between radio waves and infrared waves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What three properties describe the electromagnetic spectrum?

<p>Energy, wavelength, and frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What produces gamma rays?

<p>Pulsars, neutron stars, and supernova explosions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term 'gamma ray'?

<p>Ernest Rutherford.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered gamma rays in 1900?

<p>Paul Villard.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was x-ray named as such?

<p>Their nature was unknown.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who accidentally discovered x-rays?

<p>Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • Represents a stream of photons moving in a wavelike pattern, carrying energy.
  • Characterized by various wave types, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Wave-Particle Duality

  • Refers to the concept that particles like photons can exhibit properties of both waves and particles.

Photons

  • Fundamental particles that carry electromagnetic radiation, consisting of tiny packets of energy.

Wave Cycle

  • The complete pattern of a wave before it repeats is known as a cycle.

Frequency

  • Defined as the number of cycles a wave repeats in one second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Wavelength

  • Inversely proportional to frequency; as wavelength increases, frequency decreases.

Energy Levels of Waves

  • Gamma rays possess the highest energy and are considered the most dangerous.
  • Radio waves have the lowest energy and are the least hazardous.

Electromagnetic Waves

  • Composed of transverse waves made up of electric and magnetic fields.
  • Electric fields are created by charged particles, while magnetic fields stem from moving electric charges.

Key Figures in Electromagnetism

  • James Clerk Maxwell established the theory of electromagnetism, leading to the formulation of Maxwell's equations.
  • Heinrich Hertz discovered radio waves in 1886.
  • Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi contributed significantly to developments in communication technology.

Types of Electromagnetic Radiation

  • Radio waves: Longest wavelength (1 mm to 100 km) and described by either wavelength or frequency.
  • Microwaves: Shorter wavelengths than radio waves, lying between radio and infrared waves.
  • Infrared radiation: Wavelengths from 0.78 to about 1000 micrometers, categorized as near, middle, and far infrared.

Visible Light

  • A narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum detected by the human eye, representing a combination of all colors.
  • Black is the complete absence of light.

Ultraviolet Radiation

  • Discovered by Johann William Ritter, it consists of three types:
    • UV-A rays: Contribute to skin aging and wrinkling.
    • UV-B rays: More harmful, associated with skin cancer and sunburn.
    • UV-C rays: The most hazardous form of ultraviolet radiation.

Discovery Timeline

  • Infrared radiation was discovered by Sir Frederick William Herschel in 1800.
  • X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen during studies on cathode rays.

Applications of Electromagnetic Waves

  • Radio detection and ranging (RADAR) utilizes microwaves to ascertain distances of various objects.
  • The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses the relationship between energy, wavelength, and frequency.

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Test your knowledge of the electromagnetic spectrum and wave-particle duality with these flashcards. Each card provides key definitions to help you understand the fundamental concepts of physics. Perfect for beginners and students looking to reinforce their learning.

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