Understanding White Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Questions and Answers

What is the speed of radiant energy?

approximately 200,000 km/s

approximately 300,000 km/s (correct)

approximately 500,000 km/s

approximately 400,000 km/s

What happens when electromagnetic radiation changes mediums?

It disappears

It slows down (correct)

Its frequency changes

It speeds up

What is the result of shining white light through a glass prism?

The light disappears

The light changes into ultraviolet radiation

The light remains white

The light separates into its comprising frequencies (correct)

What is white light made of?

All the colors and frequencies of the visible light spectrum Signup and view all the answers

Who experimented with light and shined white light through a glass prism?

Isaac Newton and Joseph von Fraunhofer Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why an object appears to have a certain color?

Because it absorbs some frequencies or colors of light and reflects others Signup and view all the answers

What is the unit used to measure the wavelengths of visible light?

Nanometers Signup and view all the answers

What can be learned from the spectrum of light from a star?

The elements that make up the star Signup and view all the answers

What happens when light interacts with the atoms of chemical elements?

The light is absorbed and increases electron energy levels Signup and view all the answers

Why do different elements emit different frequencies of visible light when heated into a plasma state?

Because of their different electron configurations Signup and view all the answers

What is observed in the photoelectric effect?

Electrons from atoms on a surface randomly increase energy levels as if being impacted by particles Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of destructive interference in the double slit experiment?

There is no oscillation or wave on the electromagnetic field, so there is no light present Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the frequency of a photon and its energy level?

The frequency of the wave or oscillating photon is directly proportional to its energy level Signup and view all the answers

What is observed when white light is shined through a prism?

The white light is separated into its individual frequencies, or colors Signup and view all the answers

What is the order of the colors in white light, from lowest energy level to highest?

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum consists of a range of frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic radiant energy, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum detectable by the human eye, consisting of an assortment of frequencies and wavelengths that emerge as all the colors of the rainbow.

White Light

White light is made up of all the colors and frequencies of the visible light spectrum on the electromagnetic spectrum.
It contains all the wavelengths and frequencies of the visible light spectrum.
Shining white light through a glass prism separates it into its component frequencies, emerging as all the colors of the rainbow.

Properties of Light

Light travels at approximately 300,000 km/s.
When electromagnetic radiation changes mediums, it changes speed; light slows down when entering a denser medium.
Different frequencies of light oscillate at different energy levels, causing them to slow down at slightly different speeds and change trajectories, resulting in the separation of white light into its component colors.

Wave-Particle Duality of Light

Light can behave as both particles (photons) and waves.
The photoelectric effect demonstrates light's particle behavior, while Thomas Young's double slit experiment confirms its wave-like properties.
Monochromatic light fired through two small slits creates an interference pattern, demonstrating constructive and destructive interference.

Interference Pattern

Constructive interference occurs when similar points on separate waves intersect, resulting in bright spots or lines.
Destructive interference occurs when opposite points of separate waves meet, resulting in no wave present, and no light is observed.

White Light Spectrum

The double slit experiment using sunlight creates an interference pattern comprising all the frequencies contained within the white light, i.e., all the colors of the rainbow.
Each color of the rainbow is a range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves or photons oscillating at different frequencies, correlated with energy levels according to E=hf.

Composition of White Light

White light shined through a glass prism separates into its individual frequencies, comprising all the colors of the rainbow.
The colors of the rainbow can be remembered using the acronym VIBGYOR or ROYGBIV.
Each color exists as a range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.

Wavelengths of Visible Light

Wavelengths of visible light can be measured in nanometers (nm), with 1 nanometer equal to 0.000000001 meters.
The wavelengths and frequencies of the visible light spectrum are listed in the table:
- Violet: 380-450 nm
- Blue: 450-485 nm
- Cyan: 485-500 nm
- Green: 500-565 nm
- Yellow: 565-590 nm
- Orange: 590-625 nm
- Red: 625-700 nm

Sources of White Light

White light can come from sources that produce all the visible frequencies of light, such as the Sun, fluorescent light bulbs, or some stars.
Spectrometry uses the separated frequencies of light to make observations, providing information on the composition of stars and planets.

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Description

Learn about the properties and components of white light, including its frequency and wavelength, and how it fits into the broader electromagnetic spectrum.