| A | B |
|---|
| electromagnetic wave | a wave that can travel through space or matter and consists of changing electric and magnetic fields |
| radiation | the transfer of energy through matter or space as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light and infrared waves |
| electromagnetic spectrum | the entire range of electromagnetic waves |
| reflection | the bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier or an object |
| law of reflection | the law that states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection |
| absorption | the transfer of energy carried by light waves to particles of matter |
| scattering | the release of light energy by particles of matter that have absorbed energy |
| refraction | the bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another |
| diffraction | the bending of waves around a barrier or through an opening |
| interference | a wave interaction that occurs when two or more waves overlap |
| transmission | the passing of light through matter |
| transparent | the term describing matter through which light is easily transmitted |
| translucent | the term describing matter that transmits light but also scatters the light as it passes through the matter |
| opaque | the term describing matter that does not transmit any light |
| pigment | a material that gives a substance its color by absorbing some colors of light and reflecting others |
