Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that travels through space as oscillating electric and magnetic fields. It includes a wide range of wavelengths, from gamma rays to radio waves.
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Electromagnetic radiation exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties, known as wave-particle duality.
The speed of electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum is approximately $3 \times 10^8$ meters per second (the speed of light).
The energy of electromagnetic radiation is quantized and can be described by the equation $E = h \nu$, where $E$ is energy, $h$ is Planck's constant, and $\nu$ is frequency.
Different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum are characterized by their wavelengths or frequencies, such as visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.
Electromagnetic radiation plays a crucial role in electronic transitions within atoms, which influences the emission and absorption spectra.
Review Questions
What properties does electromagnetic radiation exhibit according to the wave-particle duality concept?
How is the energy of electromagnetic radiation related to its frequency?
Why is electromagnetic radiation important for understanding electronic transitions in atoms?
Related terms
Photon: A quantum of electromagnetic radiation that carries energy proportional to its frequency.