EM Waves & Atoms Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

Where in an atom are gamma rays produced?

In the nucleus, by energy changes/rearrangement that stabilise it, e.g. in radioactive decay.

How are X-rays produced in terms of electrons in atoms?

Electrons fall to a lower energy level; a large energy loss is emitted as high-frequency X-ray radiation.

What happens to an electron in an atom when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation?

It moves to a higher energy level, into an 'excited' state.

What is fluorescence?

A substance absorbs ultraviolet, its excited electrons de-excite and the energy is emitted as visible light.
e.g. security marks on banknotes glowing under UV.