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Properties of Waves
Wavelength λ (lambda)
Frequency ν (nu)
Amplitude A
Speed (velocity) c
Period t
Wavelength λ
Distance between 2 consecutive peaks or troughs
Length of wave defines energy of radiation
Shorter wavelength – higher energy
Longer wavelength – lower energy
Wavelength corresponds to color in visible light
Generally measured in nanometers (nm) 1 nm = 10-9 m
could also be in Angstroms (Å) 1 Å = 10-10 m
Frequency ν
Number of waves that pass a point in space in one second
Generally measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz)
1 cycle = 1 Hz = 1 wave/sec = 1 sec-1
Frequency and wavelength inversely related
Longer wavelength lower frequency
Shorter wavelength higher frequency
Amplitude A
Maximum displacement from origin
Height from wave origin to top of the crest
Measure of the intensity (brightness) of wave
Speed c
All types of light energy travel at the same speed
Wavelength does not matter!
Speed of light in a vacuum
2.997925 x 108 m/s
2.997925 x 1010 cm/s
Review
Electromagnetic Radiation
Emission and transmission of energy in form of electromagnetic (em) waves
o Every wave has four characteristics that determine its properties – wave speed, height (amplitude),
length, and the number of wave peaks that pass in a given time
Radiant energy
o Visible & invisible (light)
o Light is one form of energy
o Travels in waves
o Given off by atoms when they have been excited by any form of energy
o Divided into classes according to wavelength
Electromagnetic Radiation
A traveling wave with perpendicular electric and magnetic fields
Electromagnetic Waves
Velocity = c = speed of light = 2.997925 x 108 m/s (m•sec-1) in vacuum (it’s constant!)
All types of light energy travel at the same speed
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Wavelengths shorter than visible are: UV, X-ray, and gamma rays
Wavelengths longer than visible are: infrared (IR) and electronic (radar, TV/FM, AM radio)
Warm-blooded animals emit radiation in the IR (heat)
White light is made up of all colors of light
o Can separate white light into different colors
o Can combine different colors of light to get white light
What is sensitivity of human eye?
o If you had a uniformly bright spectra, you would see yellow-green the best.
o Purple has to be almost 100 times more intense to look as bright as yellow-green.
o Yellow-green is also the intensity peak for the sun!
Spectral composition of the Sun
o Before entering the earth’s atmosphere is 9%UV, 40% visible and 51% infrared
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Example: Arrange the three types of electromagnetic radiation—visible light, X-rays, and microwaves—in
order of increasing:
(a) wavelength ________________________________________________________________