Physics Waves and Light Flashcards

Light waves are transverse and part of the electromagnetic spectrum, oscillating with varying frequencies.
Red light has the lowest frequency, while violet has the highest.
Light does not require a medium to travel.

Radio Waves: Used in radios providing amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) for sound.
Microwaves: Utilized for heating food; common household microwaves operate using magnetrons.
Radar: Employed by law enforcement and fishermen for detecting objects and tracking fish.
Infrared Waves: Used by police for detection; also in heating lamps to keep food warm.
Visible Light: The only portion of the spectrum visible to humans containing red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, arranged from slowest to fastest.
Ultraviolet Waves: Invisible to humans and used for sanitizing and sterilization in medical settings.
X-Rays: Medical tool for diagnosing broken bones and examining luggage in airport security.
Gamma Rays: Powerful waves used in medicine for cancer treatment to destroy tumors.

Waves arranged from slowest to fastest: Radio Waves, Microwaves, Radar, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-Rays, Gamma Rays, Cosmic Rays.

Transparent: Allow light to travel through (e.g., air, clear glass).
Translucent: Permit some light to pass through but scatter it, causing blurred visibility (e.g., frosted glass).
Opaque: Block all light, either reflecting or absorbing it (e.g., wood, metal).

Formed when an object obstructs light, casting a shadow in the opposite direction of the light source.

Represent the segment of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see, with optimal frequencies for visibility.

The seven colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, remembered through the acronym ROY G BIV. Red has the lowest frequency, while violet has the highest.