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Electromagnetic Radiation - Introductory

You won't be able to resist the magnetic pull of this vocabulary list! Learn all about electromagnetic radiation as you review types of waves, wave properties, absorption and reflection, and much more.
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. absorb
    suck or take up or in
  2. absorption
    when radiated energy is retained on passing through a medium
  3. amplitude
    the maximum displacement of a periodic wave
  4. atom
    the smallest component of an element
  5. bioluminescence
    luminescence produced by physiological processes
  6. brightness
    the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
  7. cell
    a device that delivers an electric current
  8. color
    a visual attribute of things from the light they emit
  9. crest
    the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
  10. electromagnetic
    pertaining to or exhibiting magnetism produced by electric charge in motion
  11. field
    space around a radiating body within which it exerts force
  12. frequency
    the number of occurrences within a given time period
  13. incandescence
    light emission by a body as its temperature is raised
  14. light
    electromagnetic radiation that can produce visual sensation
  15. magnetic field
    the lines of force surrounding a permanent magnet or a moving charged particle
  16. medium
    an intervening substance through which something is achieved
  17. microwave
    a relatively short electromagnetic wave used for cooking food
  18. particle
    a body having finite mass but negligible dimensions
  19. peak
    the highest point of something
  20. prism
    optical device used to deviate a beam or invert an image
  21. radiation
    energy transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles
  22. reflect
    throw or bend back from a surface
  23. reflection
    the phenomenon of a wave being thrown back from a surface
  24. scattering
    the physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions
  25. sight
    the ability to see; the visual faculty
  26. surface
    the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer
  27. translucent
    allowing light to pass through diffusely
  28. transmission
    fraction of radiant energy that passes through a substance
  29. transmit
    serve as the medium for sending something
  30. transparent
    able to be seen through with clarity
  31. transverse
    extending or lying across, in a crosswise direction
  32. visible
    capable of being seen or open to easy view
  33. visible light
    (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
  34. vision
    the ability to see
  35. wave
    (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
  36. wavelength
    distance between successive crests of a periodic disturbance
Created on Tue Feb 21 14:13:42 EST 2017 (updated Mon Apr 10 17:03:04 EDT 2017)

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