| Term | Definition |
|---|
| electromagnetic wave | transverse waves that transfer electric and magnetic waves |
| electromagnetic radiation | energy that travels through space in the form of electromagnetic waves |
| polarized light | light that vibrates in only one direction |
| photoelectric effect | the movement of electrons in a substance when light is shining on it |
| photon | a tiny particle or packet of light energy |
| electromagnetic spectrum | the range of electromagnetic waves placed in a certain order |
| radio waves | electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies |
| microwaves | radio waves with the shortest wavelengths and the highest frequency |
| radar | a system of detecting reflected radio waves |
| magnetic resonance imaging | process that use radio waves to form pictures of the inside of the human body |
| infrared ray | electromagnetic waves with higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths than radio waves |
| thermogram | an image that shows regions of different temperatures in different colors |
| visible light | electromagnetic radiation that can be seen with an unaided eye |
| ultraviolet ray | electromagnetic waves with frequencies higher than visible light, but lower than x-rays |
| x-ray | electromagnetic waves with higher frequencies than ultraviolet waves, but shorter than gamma rays |
| gamma ray | electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths and the highest frequencies |
| illuminated | word used to describe an object that can be seen because it reflects light |
| luminous | word used to describe an object that can be seen because it emits light |
| spectroscope | an instrument used to view the different colors of light produced by different sources |
| incandescent light | lights that glow when a filament inside them gets hot |
| fluorescent | light that glows when an electric current causes ultraviolet waves to strike a coating inside the tube |
| neon light | glass tubes filled with neon that produces light |
| sodium vapor light | light bulbs containing solid sodium plus neon and argon gas |
| tungsten-halogen light | bulbs containing tungsten filament and a halogen gas that produces light |
| bioluminescence | light produced by organisms as a result of a chemical reaction |
| amplitude modulation | method of transmitting radio signals by changing the amplitude of the waves |
| frequency modulation | method of transmitting radio signals by changing the frequency of the waves |
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