| A | B |
|---|
| reflection | when incident light hits an object and bounces off |
| absorption | when incident light hits atoms and molecules and causes them to vibrate increasing the temperature; this heat is then emitted as thermal energy |
| scatter | occurs when light bounces off an object in a variety of directions |
| refraction | when light changes direction as it passes from one medium to another |
| diffraction | the bending and spreading of waves around an obstacle |
| ultraviolet waves | EM waves with more energy than visible light and can cause sunburn |
| microwaves | long wavelengths; used in cell phones |
| x-ray waves | EM waves that can pass through skin and have short wavelengths |
| gamma waves | dangerous EM waves that have very high energy and come from nuclear reactions |
| infrared waves | EM waves that we feel as heat |
| radio waves | EM waves that have very low energy and long wavelengths |
