Atomic Emissions Spectra Vocabulary

2. the specific wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electrons of atoms or molecules as those electrons return to a lower and more stable energy state
5. a form of energy that exhibits wavelike behavior as it travels through space; part of the electromagnetic spectrum
6. the distance between two adjacent crests or troughs of a wave
8. the distribution of energy in wavelengths within a system
10. an electron at the lowest possible energy for an atom
11. electrons that momentarily occupy an energy state that is higher than at the ground state
13. the number of wave cycles that pass a given point per unit of time
14. the behavior of a wave as it bends around a sharp edge; occurs when a wave passes through a single narrow slit or multiple narrow slits
15. an elementary particle that is the smallest possible amount of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation that can interact with anything

1. a continuum of all electromagnetic waves arranged according to frequency and wavelength
3. the height of a wave from origin to the crest or trough
4. discrete regions around the nucleus where electrons can exist
7. the combination of two or more of the same type of wave
9. the observation that when certain wavelengths of light strike a piece of metal, electrons are emitted, potentially creating an electric current
12. a device that measures the properties of the different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation coming from a single source