Summarizing Photon Energies and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Summary
- Photon energy is responsible for many characteristics of EM radiation, being particularly noticeable at high frequencies.
- Photons have both wave and particle characteristics.
Glossary
gamma ray
also \(\gamma \)-ray; highest-energy photon in the EM spectrum
ionizing radiation
radiation that ionizes materials that absorb it
x ray
EM photon between \(\gamma \)-ray and UV in energy
bremsstrahlung
German for braking radiation; produced when electrons are decelerated
characteristic x rays
x rays whose energy depends on the material they were produced in
ultraviolet radiation
UV; ionizing photons slightly more energetic than violet light
visible light
the range of photon energies the human eye can detect
infrared radiation
photons with energies slightly less than red light
microwaves
photons with wavelengths on the order of a micron (\(\text{μm}\))
This lesson is part of:
Introduction to Quantum Physics
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