PCS181 Notes

The EM Spectrum:
Light:
o Mutually perpendicular oscillating electric and magnetic
fields
o Moves in wavelike pattern at a speed of c = 3 x 108 m/s
o c = speed of light
Wavelength (): Distance between peaks of a wave
Tachyons: Theoretical faster-than light particles
Electromagnetic Properties:
Wavelength -> colour
1 nanometer = 1nm = 1 m = 1 x 10-9m = 10-9m
1 x 109
Red = 700nm = 700 x 10-9m = 7 x 10-7m
Violet = 400nm = 400 x 10-9m = 4 x 10-7m
Yellow = 550nm
Visible Colours: ROYGBIV
Photons: bundles of energy -> light as a particle
The shorter the wavelength, the more dangerous they are (ie:
Ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays)
Frequency = f
Number of wave peaks passing a given point each second
Number of waves/second
Complete cycles/second
Cycles/s
Hertz (Hz)
f = c/ (speed of light/wavelength)
fred = 3 x 108 m/s
700 x 10-9m
**(m will cancel each other so put in meters rather than
nanometers)**
= 4.3 x 1014 cycles/s
= 4.3 x 1014 Hz
Planck Curve:
-273oC = 0 Kelvins
nothing colder than 0 Kelvins
WIEN Equation
o T = 0.0029 m*K

0.0029 m*K
max
550x10-9m
T = 5272.7 ~ 5300 K
Note: the surface temperature is ~ 5800 K

PCS181 Notes

Energy of Light:
E = hf
o h = Plancks constant
Ered = (6.625 x 10-34 j*s)(4.3 x 1014 cycles/s)
Ered = 2.85 x 10-19J
Note: shorter wavelength = higher frequencies and energies.
Hot low density element produces bright coloured lines on a dark
background = emission spectrum
When light having a continuous spectrum passes through a
cooler gas, the gas absorbs specific wavelengths = dark lines on
rainbow background = absorption spectrum
Hydrogen Emission Spectrum-> two green, blue, and red