CHEM 1A Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Electric Field, Electromagnetic Spectrum

• School: UC-Irvine
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHEM 1A
• Professor: Sandra Brown

Document Summary

Lecture 4 classical mechanics and quantum mechanics: some basic themes. Quantum-mechanical model: a model that explain strange behavior of electrons. Light is electromagnetic radiation: energy that include both oscillating electric and magnetic fields. Electric field: an area of space where an electrically charged particle experiences a force. Transports energy through empty space, stored in the propagating electric and magnetic fields. Waves move at 3 * 10 ^ 8 m/s. Frequency (v): number of cycles or wave crests. V directly proportional to speed of wave. C = speed of life = 3 * 10 ^ 8 m/s. V = c (speed of light) / . Electromagnetic spectrum - includes all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Low wavelength, high frequency - to the right. Long wavelength, small frequency - to the left. Radio - microwave - infrared light - visible light - ultraviolet - x rays - gamma rays. Waves are aligned together and are parallel. Creates a wave that has higher amplitude.