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electromagnetic spectrum
The complete spectrum of light, including radio waves, infrared visible light, ultraviolet light, X rays, and gamma rays. TERM 2
visible
light
DEFINITION 2 The light our eyes can see, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 700 nm. TERM 3
electromagnetic radiation
DEFINITION 3 Another name for light of all types, from radio waves through gamma rays. TERM 4
wavelength
DEFINITION 4 The distance between adjacent peaks (or troughs) of a wave. TERM 5
frequency
DEFINITION 5 Describes the rate at which peaks of a wave pass by a point; measured in units of 1/s, often called cycles per second or hertz.
electromagnetic wave
A synonym for light, which consists of waves of electric and magnetic fields. TERM 7
speed of
light
DEFINITION 7 The speed at which light travels, which is about 300, km/s. TERM 8
infrared
DEFINITION 8 Light with wavelengths that fall in the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between radio waves and visible light. TERM 9
radio waves
DEFINITION 9 Light with very long wavelengths (and hence low frequencies)-longer than those of infrared light. TERM 10
microwaves
DEFINITION 10 Light with wavelengths in the range of micrometers to millimeters. Microwaves are generally considered to be a subset of the radio wave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
protons
Particles found in atomic nuclei with positive electrical charge, built from three quarks. TERM 17
neutrons
DEFINITION 17 Particles with no electrical charge found in atomic nuclei, built form three quarks. TERM 18
electrons
DEFINITION 18 Fundamental particles with negative electric charge; the distribution of electrons in an atom gives the atom its size. TERM 19
nucleus
DEFINITION 19 The compact center of an atom made from protons and neutrons. TERM 20
electrical charge
DEFINITION 20 A fundamental property of matter that is described by its amount and as either positive or negative; more technically, it is a measure of how a particle responds to the electromagnetic force.
atomic
number
The number of protons in an atom. TERM 22
atomic mass
number
DEFINITION 22 The combined number of protons and neutrons in a atom. TERM 23
isotopes
DEFINITION 23 Each different isotope of an element has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. TERM 24
molecules
DEFINITION 24 Technically the smallest unit of a chemical element or compound; in this text, the term refers only to combinations of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. TERM 25
emission
DEFINITION 25 The process by which matter emits energy in the form of light.
