Electric And Magnetic Fields In Space

Front

Electric Field Noun

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[uh-lek-trik feeld]

Back

Electric Field

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A region of space around a charged particle where another charge experiences an electrostatic force.

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Example: This diagram shows that an electric field is a region around a charged particle. The field lines point away from a positive charge and towards a negative charge.

Front

Magnetic Field Noun

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[mag-net-ik feeld]

Back

Magnetic Field

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A region around a magnet or moving charge where a magnetic force is exerted on other magnetic materials.

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Example: This diagram shows a bar magnet with its magnetic field lines. The arrows indicate the field's direction, flowing from the North pole to the South pole.

Front

Electromagnetic Wave Noun

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[uh-lek-tro-mag-net-ik wayv]

Back

Electromagnetic Wave

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Coupled, oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space, carrying energy from one place to another.

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Example: An electromagnetic wave is made of vibrating electric and magnetic fields that move through space, with each field perpendicular to the other and to the direction of travel.

Front

Hertz (Hz) Noun

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[hurts]

Back

Hertz (Hz)

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The standard international unit of frequency, defined as one complete cycle of a wave occurring per second.

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Example: This diagram shows that Hertz (Hz) measures frequency, which is the number of wave cycles that pass a point in one second. A higher Hertz value means more cycles per second.

Front

Propagate Verb

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[prop-uh-geyt]

Back

Propagate

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To travel or be transmitted through a medium or space, such as how a wave moves.

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Example: This diagram shows how electromagnetic radiation, represented by wavy lines with arrows, propagates or travels through space from the Sun to the Earth.

Front

Oscillate Verb

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[os-uh-leyt]

Back

Oscillate

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To move or swing back and forth in a regular, repeating pattern or rhythm, like a pendulum.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave oscillating, or moving back and forth, around a central equilibrium line, just like electric and magnetic fields in space.

Front

Transverse Wave Noun

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[tranz-vurs wayv]

Back

Transverse Wave

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A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.

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Example: This diagram shows a transverse wave, labeling its key parts: the highest point (peak), lowest point (trough), height from the center (amplitude), and length of one cycle (wavelength).

Front

Vacuum Noun

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[vak-yoom]

Back

Vacuum

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A space that is entirely empty of matter, where electromagnetic waves can travel at their maximum speed.

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Example: This image displays a science kit with a pump and chamber used to remove air, demonstrating a vacuum by showing its effect on objects.

Front

Speed of Light (c) Noun

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[speed ov lite]

Back

Speed of Light (c)

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The constant speed at which all electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum, approximately 3.00 × 10⁸ m/s.

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Example: This image shows that light from the Sun takes 499 seconds to travel the distance to Earth, visually demonstrating the immense but finite speed of light.

Front

Wavelength (λ) Noun

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[wayv-length (lam-duh)]

Back

Wavelength (λ)

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The spatial period of a periodic wave, representing the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave and labels its key parts. Wavelength is the distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave, like from crest to crest.