SCI1300 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Radioactive Decay, Outgoing Longwave Radiation, Ozone Layer
22 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
Potential energy: can potentially be released and converted into kinetic energy: thermal e. g. temperature, chemical e. g. water vapour, mechanical e. g. pressure, gravitational. Radiant energy: associated with electromagnetic waves being emitted and absorbed. Key source of energy for entire earth system is electromagnetic radiation from the sun. Key sink of energy is radiation back to space. A changing magnetic field induces a magnetic field. A changing magnetic field induces an electric field. This leads to an overall disturbance that is self-perpetuating, and propagates away from source at finite speed- an electromagnetic wave. All matter emits radiation at all frequencies at all time, although in varying amounts (some undetectable) The distance between wave crests is called wavelength. Number of crests per second is called frequency. Em waves do not require a material medium in which to propagate. Wave language is used when talking about scattering and reflection of radiation.
