Electromagnetic Radiation and Matter

Front

Electromagnetic Radiation Noun

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[uh-lek-troh-mag-net-ik ray-dee-ey-shuhn]

Back

Electromagnetic Radiation

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A form of energy that travels as waves, encompassing radio waves, microwaves, visible light, X-rays, and gamma rays.

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Example: This diagram shows that electromagnetic radiation is a wave made of an electric field and a magnetic field that are perpendicular to each other.

Front

Photon Noun

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[foh-ton]

Back

Photon

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A fundamental particle of light or other electromagnetic radiation, carrying a discrete amount or quantum of energy.

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Example: This diagram shows photons, which are particles of light, hitting a metal surface and transferring their energy to knock electrons out of the metal.

Front

Wavelength Noun

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[weiv-length]

Back

Wavelength

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The distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs of a wave, which determines the type of electromagnetic radiation.

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Example: This diagram shows that wavelength is the distance between two identical points on a wave, such as from one crest to the next.

Front

Frequency Noun

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[free-kwuhn-see]

Back

Frequency

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The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, being inversely related to wavelength.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave with few cycles over a period of time, which is a visual representation of low frequency.

Front

Ionization Noun

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[ahy-uh-nuh-zey-shuhn]

Back

Ionization

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The process by which an atom or a molecule gains or loses an electron, resulting in a net electrical charge.

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Example: Energy is added to an atom, causing an electron to be knocked out of its orbit and become a free electron, turning the atom into an ion.

Front

Binding Energy Noun

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[bahyn-ding en-er-jee]

Back

Binding Energy

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The energy required to remove an electron from an atom, or to separate a particle from a system of particles.

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Example: This diagram shows that binding energy is the energy you must add to an atomic nucleus to break it apart into its separate protons and neutrons.

Front

Ionizing Radiation Noun

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[ahy-uh-nahy-zing ray-dee-ey-shuhn]

Back

Ionizing Radiation

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Radiation with sufficient energy to eject electrons from atoms, which can cause chemical bond breakage and tissue damage.

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Example: This diagram shows the electromagnetic spectrum, arranging radiation from lower energy (like radio waves) to higher energy, and identifies the high-energy portion as ionizing radiation.

Front

Absorption Spectrum Noun

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[ab-sawrp-shuhn spek-truhm]

Back

Absorption Spectrum

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A pattern of dark lines on a continuous spectrum, created when a substance absorbs specific wavelengths of light.

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Example: This image shows a continuous light spectrum with dark lines, representing specific wavelengths of light absorbed by the element Neon, creating its unique fingerprint.

Front

Emission Spectrum Noun

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[ih-mish-uhn spek-truhm]

Back

Emission Spectrum

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A pattern of bright lines produced by photons emitted from a substance as its electrons transition to lower energy levels.

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Example: When an element like sodium is energized, it emits light only at specific colors, creating a unique pattern of lines called its emission spectrum.

Front

Opaque Adjective

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[oh-peyk]

Back

Opaque

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A property of a material that absorbs or reflects all incoming radiation in a specific frequency range, preventing transmission.

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Example: An opaque object blocks light from passing through it, which results in the formation of a shadow on the other side.