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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