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The Electromagnetic Spectrum definitions
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
A continuum of all electromagnetic waves, ranging from radio waves to gamma rays, with varying wavelengths and frequencies.
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Terms in this set (15)
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
A continuum of all electromagnetic waves, ranging from radio waves to gamma rays, with varying wavelengths and frequencies.
Wavelength
The distance between successive crests of a wave, inversely proportional to frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Frequency
The number of wave cycles per second, inversely proportional to wavelength and directly proportional to energy.
Radio Waves
The longest wavelength electromagnetic waves, used for AM and FM radio transmissions.
Microwaves
Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than radio waves, used in microwave ovens and radar technology.
Infrared Radiation
Electromagnetic waves perceived as heat, with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves.
Visible Light
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye, encompassing all colors of the rainbow.
Ultraviolet Rays
Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than visible light, responsible for sunburns.
X-rays
High-energy electromagnetic waves used in medical imaging, with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet rays.
Gamma Rays
The shortest wavelength, highest energy electromagnetic waves, used in cancer treatment and emitted by cosmic sources.
Speed of Light
A constant speed at which light travels in a vacuum, approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second.
Energy
Directly proportional to frequency in electromagnetic waves, with higher frequencies having higher energy.
Continuum
A continuous sequence or range, such as the electromagnetic spectrum, with no distinct boundaries.
Nanometer
A unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter, used to measure wavelengths of light.
Micrometer
A unit of length equal to one millionth of a meter, used to measure wavelengths in the infrared spectrum.