Electromagnetic RadiationDefinition:

Characteristics of Waves

Wavelength (λ):

Frequency (v):

Amplitude:

Draw and Label the parts of a wave:

Other relevant Info.

White light can be separated into ________________________________________________

The color with the highest frequency is_______/ with the lowest frequency is _________

List the different forms of electromagnetic radiation in order of least to greatest frequency:________________________________________________________________As photon energy increases, what happens to wavelength and frequency?_______________________________

Electrons in Atoms

In the early 1900’s scientist discovered that certain elements gave off visible light when heated in a flame. Analysis of this light revealed that an element’s chemical behavior is related to the arrangement of electrons.

Because of this, it became important to understand nature of light

When did studying light become important?

Electromagnetic radiation: a form of energy that exhibits wavelike behavior as it travels through space.

Examples Visible light from the sun, microwaves, x-rays, radio waves, etc

Wave Nature of Light

Wavelength: λ shortest distance between equivalent points on a

continuous wave; measured from crest to crest or trough to trough

expressed in meters, centimeters, or nanometersFrequency: v The number of waves that pass a given point per second Expressed in hertz (Hz or s-1) Amplitude Wave’s height from the origin to a crest or origin to a

trough

Characteristics of Waves

crest

amplitudeorigin

c = λ vwhere c is the speed of light, λ is wavelength, and

v is frequencyExample:What is the wavelength of a microwave with a

frequency of 3.44 x 109 Hz?λ = c/v λ = 3.00 x 108 m/s = 8.72 x 10-2 m

3.44 x 10 s-1

Electromagnetic Wave RelationshipAll electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light (C) 3.00 x 108 m/s

Electromagnetic Spectrum Although the speed of

Electromagnetic waves is the same, wavelengths and frequencies can be different

(ex: higher frequency = shorter wavelength)

White light, such as sunlight, can be separated into a continuous spectrum of colors if passed through a prism. These are the colors of the rainbow (roy g biv – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)

Electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) is all forms of electromagnetic radiation where the only difference in the types of radiation is their wavelengths and frequencies

Electromagnetic Spectrum