Download Light is an electromagnetic wave. Turn text to image. Illustrate the

Light is an electromagnetic wave.
Turn text to image. Illustrate the meanings of the ideas in the following paragraphs to show how
accelerating charges produce electromagnetic waves or EMR, electromagnetic radiation. Use images,
examples, and make reference to useful pages in your text and to helpful websites!
When an electron in an atom absorbs
energy, it can transition to a higher
energy level. It will then transition
down to a lower, more stable energy
level. In downtransitioning, the
electron must give up some of its
energy, it gives up that energy in the
form of a photon, or an amount of
radiant energy. That energy travels in
the form of an electromagnetic wave.
The electromagnetic wave is the result of interactions between oscillating electric and magnetic fields
emanating from the moving charge. The electron has an electric field with field lines which end on the
charge. The motion of the electron induces a closed loop magnetic field perpendicular to its motion. The
moving electron therefore has an associated electric and magnetic field.
The electric and magnetic fields travel out from the moving charge in all directions, transferring the
energy lost by the falling electron. The electric and magnetic fields oscillate in phase and perpendicular
to each other and to the direction of motion of the electron. Together, they form the electromagnetic
wave emanated from the electron. The electromagnetic wave is the light produced by the accelerating
charge.
Electromagnetic waves are classified
by their wavelength and frequency.
The set of all electromagnetic wave
wavelengths possible is called the
electromagnetic spectrum.
Electromagnetic waves may have
different wavelength and frequency
but all have the same behavior and
all travel at c, the speed of light, in a
vacuum, such as empty space.
Large downtransitions by electrons produce large
emissions of energy which result in high energy
photons associated with short wave, high
frequency light, such as X-rays and UV light.
Smaller downtransitions produce smaller or less
energetic emissions which result in lower energy
photons of visible light, IR, and radio and
microwaves.
We call electromagnetic waves of between 400nm
and 750nm wavelength “visible light” because we
can see them. We can see these wavelengths
because they stimulate our retina nerve cells to
send nerve impulses to the visual processing
center of the brain. Other wavelengths do not
stimulate those nerve cells, so we do not see those
wavelengths.