Define
Define radiant energy
The energy carried by electromagnetic waves.
Describe visible light
Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see.
Relationship between energy and amplitude.
The energy of a wave increases as its amplitude increases.
Explain how energy waves move.
Through a disturbance or vibration that travels from one point to another without transferring matter.
Give examples of physical/mechanical and electromagnetic energy.
Mechanical energy is energy caused by movement or position of objects — basically, things that move or have the potential to move.
💥 Examples:
Sound waves – vibrations of air molecules when you talk, play music, or clap.
Ocean waves – water moving back and forth, carrying energy to the shore.
A swinging pendulum – changes between potential energy (at the top) and kinetic energy (as it swings).
Wind energy – moving air that turns windmill blades.
A bouncing ball – motion energy (kinetic) and stored energy (potential) working together.
Electromagnetic (EM) energy travels in waves of electric and magnetic fields — it doesn’t need matter and can move through space.
💡 Examples:
Radio waves – used for broadcasting music and communication.
Microwaves – used in microwave ovens and cell phones.
Infrared light – heat energy you feel from the Sun or a fire.
Visible light – the light your eyes can see (rainbows, lamps, etc.).
Ultraviolet (UV) rays – come from the Sun; can cause sunburn.
X-rays – used by doctors to see your bones.
Gamma rays – released by nuclear reactions and used to kill cancer cells.
Define Technology
Technology is equipment or machinery that can do things humans cannot - scientific knowledge.
Describe what process is taking place on the sun.
Nuclear fusion
Relationship between wavelength and frequency.
Wavelength and frequency are opposites - when one goes up, the other goes down.
Explain how radiant energy works in a solar water heater.
In a solar water heater, radiant energy from the sun is absorbed by a dark-colored collector and converted into heat. This heat is then transferred to water (or a heat-transfer fluid) that circulates through the system and is stored in an insulated tank.
Define Energy
Energy is the ability to do work.
Solar collectors capture the sun's energy and transfers it to the water to make it warmer by using only the sun.
Compare and contrast 2 types of wave energy.
Light waves: Electromagnetic waves — they don’t need matter to travel. They can move through empty space (a vacuum), like sunlight traveling from the Sun to Earth.
Sound waves: Mechanical waves — they do need matter (like air, water, or solids) to travel. That’s why there’s no sound in space!
Explain types of energies found in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Radio waves:
What they are: The longest waves with the least energy.
What they do: Carry signals for radios, TVs, and cell phones.
Microwaves:
What they are: Shorter waves than radio waves, with more energy.
What they do: Used in microwave ovens to heat food and also in Wi-Fi and radar.
Infrared:
What they are: Even shorter waves that we often feel as heat.
What they do: Everything warm gives off infrared energy — even your body!
Visible light:
What it is: The part of the spectrum we can actually see with our eyes.
What it does: It includes all the colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet (like a rainbow!).
Ultraviolet:
What it is: Has shorter waves and more energy than visible light.
What it does: Comes from the Sun and can cause sunburns.
X rays:
What they are: Very short waves with a lot of energy.
What they do: Can pass through soft things (like skin) but not hard things (like bones).
Gamma rays:
What they are: The shortest waves with the most energy.
What they do: Made by nuclear reactions and certain kinds of space explosions.
Define Work
Work is the transfer of energy that occurs when a force causes an object to move a certain distance.
Describe the differences between colors of visible light.
Each color has a different wavelength.
Label the diagram on the board:
Wavelength
Amplitude
Trough
Crest
Node
Check with Janski
Explain how light waves behave when they encounter different forms of matter.
The light waves can absorb, reflect, transmit, or refract when they encounter matter.
Describe how energy waves are described in terms of wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and speed.
Wavelength is the distance between peaks, frequency is the number of waves per second, and amplitude is the height of the wave.
Explain how energy waves (mechanical and electromagnetic) get started.
Mechanical waves get started by the disturbance of a medium.
Electromagnetic waves are generated by vibrating or accelerating charged particles.