Electromagnetic Radiation Flashcard

Front

What is electromagnetic radiation?

Back

Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that travels through space at the speed of light and includes a range of waves such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Front

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

Back

The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second).

Front

What is a galaxy?

Back

A galaxy is a massive system that consists of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter, bound together by gravity.

Front

What type of galaxy is the Milky Way?

Back

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.

Front

What is a binary star system?

Back

A binary star system consists of two stars that orbit around a common center of mass.

Front

Who was the first person to propose the heliocentric model of the solar system?

Back

Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model, which places the Sun at the center of the solar system.

Front

What is the difference between a reflecting telescope and a refracting telescope?

Back

A reflecting telescope uses mirrors to gather and focus light, while a refracting telescope uses lenses.

Front

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

Back

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, organized by wavelength or frequency.

Front

What is the significance of the Doppler effect in astronomy?

Back

The Doppler effect helps astronomers determine whether an object in space is moving towards or away from Earth, based on the change in frequency of light or sound.

Front

What is redshift?

Back

Redshift is the phenomenon where light from an object moving away from an observer is shifted to longer wavelengths, indicating that the object is receding.