EM Waves & Atoms Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

Where in the atom do gamma rays originate?

From changes in the nucleus of the atom.

What can changes in atoms and in the nuclei of atoms do to electromagnetic waves?

They can generate or absorb electromagnetic waves over a wide frequency range.

True or false? X-rays and gamma rays are both emitted from the nucleus of an atom.

False. Only gamma rays come from the nucleus; X-rays are produced by changes in the atom outside the nucleus (fast electrons hitting a metal target).

Can atoms absorb electromagnetic waves as well as emit them?

Yes — changes in atoms and their nuclei can result in EM waves being absorbed as well as generated.