Electromagnetic Key Terms

Electromagnetic wave|A wave that does not require a medium in which

to travel and it travels at the speed of light.

Radio Waves |Electromagnetic waves on the electromagnetic spectrum

with the longest wavelengths and lowest amount of energy.

Microwaves |Electromagnetic waves on the electromagnetic spectrum

with shorter wavelengths than radio waves used in cooking.

Infrared waves|Electromagnetic waves that are just below visible light

that are commonly referred to as heat waves.

Visible light|The only electromagnetic waves that we can see.

Ultraviolet waves|Electromagnetic waves that have shorter

wavelengths than visible light and are commonly used in tanning beds.

X rays|Electromagnetic waves that have longer wavelength than

gamma waves and are used in medicine and airports.

Gamma waves|Electromagnetic waves that have the highest energy or

frequency and the shortest wavelength.

Light|Electromagnetic waves of a range of wavelengths that is visible

to the human eye

Photon|A unit or quantum of light.