Module 5
1. Module 5
1.3. Lesson 1
Module 5—Wave Theory of Light
Lesson 1—Electromagnetic Radiation
Get Focused
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The night sky reveals an untold number of stars, each one producing light that propagates outward in all directions. Eventually, some of the light reaches Earth, as shown by this illustration of the night sky. In another image, the bone structure of the human hand is revealed by X-rays that can travel only through certain tissues. At first glance, the images seem completely unrelated; but they are not.
What do these two photographic images have in common? Are they both formed by light passing through space and material? Are both images based on exposure to electromagnetic radiation? Do X-rays travel through human tissue the same way visible light passes through the universe?
Jim Wehtje/Photodisc/Getty Images
Both visible light and X-rays belong to the electromagnetic spectrum, a classification system that describes all electromagnetic radiation. X-rays and visible light are also produced similarly and demonstrate a relationship between electric and magnetic fields.
In this lesson you will answer the following essential questions:
- Is electromagnetic radiation more than just visible light?
- How is the electromagnetic spectrum organized?
- How are electrical charge and magnetic field related to the production of electromagnetic radiation?
- How are electromagnetic waves generated, transmitted, and received in technologies such as the radio?
Module 5: Lesson 1 Assignment
Your teacher-marked Module 5: Lesson 1 Assignment requires you to submit a response to the following:
- Assignment—A 1, A 2, A 3, A 4, A 5, and A 6
- Discuss—D 3
The other questions in this lesson are not marked by the teacher; however, you should still answer these questions. The Self-Check and Try This questions are placed in this lesson to help you review important information and build key concepts that may be applied in future lessons.
After a discussion with your teacher, you must decide what to do with the questions that are not part of your assignment. For example, you may decide to submit to your teacher the responses to Try This questions that are not marked. You should record the answers to all the questions in this lesson and place those answers in your course folder.