| A | B |
|---|
| electromagnetic waves | A wave emitted by vibrating electrical charges and composed of vibrating electric and magnetic fields that regenerate one another. |
| electromagnetic spectrum | The range of elecrtromagnetics waves extending in frequency from radio waves to gamma rays. |
| transparent | The term applied to materials through which light can pass in straight lines. |
| opaque | The term applied to materials through which lght cannot pass. |
| additive primary colors | The three color--red, blue, and green--that when added in certain proportions produce any other color in the visible light part of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| complementary colors | Any two colors that when added produce white light. |
| subtractive primary colors | The three colors of absorbing pigments--magenta, yellow, and cyan--that when mixed in certain proportions reflect any other color in the visible-light part of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| diffraction | The bending of light as it passes around an obstacle or through a narrow slit, causing the light to spread and to produce bright and dark fringes. |
| interference | The result of superimposing two or more waves of the same wavelength. |
| polarization | The alignment of the transverse electric vectors that make up electromanetic radiation. |
