Light and Matter:

Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Basic Types of Energy

Kinetic (motion)
Radiative (light)
Stored or potential

Energy can change type but

cannot be destroyed.

Properties Of Light
Our goals for learning
What is light?
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

What is Light?
Light can act either like a wave or like a
particle
Particles of light are called photons
Light is a force called 'electromagnetism'

What is Light?
Light, or electromagnetism, is one of the
fundamental forces of the universe
Strength

Force

Function

Force
Particle

Overall Theory of
Physics

Glues the nucleus

together

Gluon

Quantum Mechanics

Electromagnetism binds electrons to

atoms

Photon

(describes forces
inside atoms)

Strongest Strong Nuclear

Force

Weak Nuclear ForceSorts between

neutrons and
protons
Gravity
Weakest

W, Z
particles

Attracts molecules Graviton(?)

and larger,
massive objects

Relativity (mass
distorts space-time)

Waves
A wave is a
pattern of motion
that can carry
energy without
carrying matter
along with it

Light: Electromagnetic Waves

A light wave is a vibration
of electric and magnetic
fields

Light interacts with charged particles through

these electric and magnetic fields

Thus, magnetic lines must also

have an electric field with them,
it is all the same force.

Properties of Waves

Wavelength is the distance between two wave peaks

Frequency is the number of times per second that a
wave vibrates up and down
wave speed = wavelength x frequency

Wavelength, Frequency, and Energy

x f = c
= wavelength, f = frequency
c = 3.00 x 108 m/s = speed of light

Wavelength and Frequency

wavelength x frequency = speed of light = constant

Particles of Light
Particles of light are called photons
Each photon has a
wavelength and a
frequency
The energy of a
photon depends on
its frequency

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

White light is made up of many different colors

The range extends far beyond visible

Thought Question
How does visible light compare to radio waves?
A.Visible light is a form of light wave while radio waves are not.
B. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves, while visible light is not.
C. Visible light waves have a shorter wavelength than radio waves.
D.Radio waves have a higher frequency than visible light waves.
E. All of the above

2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

What have we learned?

What is light?
Light can behave like either a wave or a particle
A light wave is a vibration of electric and magnetic
fields
Light waves have a wavelength and a frequency
Photons are particles of light.
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
Human eyes cannot see most forms of light.
The entire range of wavelengths of light is known as the
electromagnetic spectrum.

Properties of Matter

Our goals for learning

What is the structure of matter?
What are the phases of matter
How is energy stored in atoms?
What does this have to do with light?

What is the structure of matter?

Electron
Cloud

Atom

Nucleus

What is the structure of matter?

Electron
Cloud

Atomic Terminology
Atomic Number = # of protons in nucleus
Atomic Mass Number = # of protons + neutrons

Molecules: consist of two or more atoms (H2O, CO2)

Atomic Terminology
Increasing the
number of protons,
changes the element
into a different one.

Increasing the number

of neutrons raises the
mass of the same
element

What are the phases of matter?

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Plasma

Phases of same material behave differently

because of differences in chemical bonds

Phase Changes
Ionization: Stripping of
electrons, changing atoms into
plasma
Dissociation: Breaking of
molecules into atoms
Evaporation: Breaking of
flexible chemical bonds,
changing liquid into solid
Melting: Breaking of rigid
chemical bonds, changing
solid into liquid

 Each change involves gaining or losing energy.

If energy is gained, an atom can gain it by
absorbing light
If energy if being lost, an atom can give off
energy by emitting it as light.

Thought Question
What is the atomic mass number of carbon-13
(6 protons, 7 neutrons, 6 electrons)?
A.6
B.7
C.13
D.19
E.12
2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Thought Question
A plasma is a _______
A. gas of ions.
B. charged solid.
C. neutral liquid.
D. neutral gas.
E. flat-screen television.
2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

How is energy stored in atoms?

An atoms electrons exist at distinct energy shells

Excited States

Ground State

Electrons in atoms are restricted to particular

energy levels

Energy level Transitions

The only allowed
changes in
energy are those
corresponding to
a transition
between energy
levels
Not Allowed

Allowed

Different transitions take different amounts of energy,

which gives off different wavelength (colors) of light

A specific amount of
energy taken in from light

A specific amount of
energy given off as light

What have we learned?

What is the structure of matter?
Matter is made of atoms, which consist of a
nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by
a cloud of electrons
What are the phases of matter?
Adding heat to a substance changes its phase by
breaking chemical bonds.
As temperature rises, a substance transforms
from a solid to a liquid to a gas, then the
molecules can dissociate into atoms
Stripping of electrons from atoms (ionization)
turns the substance into a plasma

What have we learned?

How is energy stored in atoms?
The energies of electrons in atoms correspond
to particular energy levels.
Atoms gain and lose energy only in amount
corresponding to particular changes in energy
levels.
The gains or losses result in energy being
converted from or into light