CH110 Study Guide - Final Guide: Electromagnetic Radiation, Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic Radiation
Introduction
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that is
produced by oscillating electric and magnetic disturbance,
or by the movement of electrically charged particles
traveling through a vacuum or matter. The electric and
magnetic fields come at right angles to each other and
combined wave moves perpendicular to both magnetic and
electric oscillating fields thus the disturbance. Electron
radiation is released as photons, which are bundles of light
energy that travel at the speed of light as quantized
harmonic waves. This energy is then grouped into
categories based on its wavelength into the
electromagnetic spectrum. These electric and magnetic
waves travel perpendicular to each other and have certain
characteristics, including amplitude, wavelength, and
frequency.
General Properties of all electromagnetic radiation:
1. Electromagnetic radiation can travel through empty
space. Most other types of waves must travel through
some sort of substance. For example, sound waves
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need either a gas, solid, or liquid to pass through in
order to be heard.
2. The speed of light is always a constant. (Speed of light
: 2.99792458 x 108 m s-1)
3. Wavelengths are measured between the distances of
either crests or troughs. It is usually characterized by
the Greek symbol λλ.
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Waves and their Characteristics
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