All Flashcards
What is the key difference between electromagnetic and mechanical waves?
Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum; mechanical waves require a medium.
Compare radio waves and gamma rays in terms of wavelength.
Radio waves have the longest wavelengths; gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths.
Compare the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum versus in a medium.
Electromagnetic waves travel at their maximum speed in a vacuum. Their speed decreases in a medium.
Compare infrared and ultraviolet waves in terms of frequency.
Ultraviolet waves have a higher frequency than infrared waves.
Compare X-rays and visible light in terms of energy.
X-rays carry much more energy than visible light.
Label the axes of a diagram representing an electromagnetic wave.
1: Electric field, 2: Magnetic field, 3: Direction of propagation.
Label the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum diagram from longest to shortest wavelength.
1: Radio waves, 2: Microwaves, 3: Infrared, 4: Visible, 5: Ultraviolet, 6: X-rays, 7: Gamma rays.
Label the visible light spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength.
1: Red, 2: Orange, 3: Yellow, 4: Green, 5: Blue, 6: Indigo, 7: Violet.
Label the electric and magnetic field vectors in a diagram of an electromagnetic wave.
1: Electric field vector (E), 2: Magnetic field vector (B).
Label the crest and trough of a wave.
1: Crest (highest point), 2: Trough (lowest point).
What are electromagnetic waves?
Oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space.
Define transverse wave.
A wave where the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
What is a plane wave?
A wave with flat wave fronts having constant phase.
Define wavelength.
The distance between successive crests of a wave.
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation.