1.
186,000 miles per second: light travels in a vacuum
2.
absorption lines: narrow, dark lines shown when frequencies are absorbed through a prism
3.
electromagnetic spectrum: all forms or electromagnetic radiation when arranged according to wavelength and frequency
4.
electromagnetic wave: formed by an electric field and a magnetic field oscillating at right angles to each other
5.
focal point: point where light rays converge or meet
6.
frequency: how fast the wave oscillates
7.
hertz: is equal to one wavelength per second
8.
optical telescope: visible light
9.
optical, refracting, and reflecting: kinds of telescopes
10.
oscillation: back and forth motion that repeatedly follows the same path
11.
photons: packets of energy
12.
quantum theory: Max Planck's theory that light exists as packets of energy
13.
reflecting telescope: uses lenses and mirrors to produce an image
14.
refracting telescope: uses lenses to gather light and form an image
15.
spectrograph: used to make photographic studies of the spectra produced by a spectroscope
16.
spectroscope: device that splits light into a spectrum for analysis
17.
telescope: most important instrument used by astronomers
18.
visible spectrum: white light through a prism demonstrates that white light is actually made up of the colors of the rainbow
19.
wave: rhythmic movement transferring energy from one place to another
20.
wavelength: the length of one complete cycle or oscillation