About light, radiation, radiant energy & electromagnetic energy
There is a difference in meaning between the terms light, electromagnetic radiation, radiant energy and electromagnetic energy in physics.
Light
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- Light is best used to refer to the subset of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, ranging from violet (shorter wavelengths) to red (longer wavelengths).
Electromagnetic radiation
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- Electromagnetic radiation refers to the transfer of all forms of electromagnetic radiation through space by electromagnetic waves and includes gamma rays, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), X-rays, and radio waves, as well as visible light.
- Electromagnetic radiation exhibits a wave-particle duality. This means it can behave like both a wave and a particle depending on the experiment or observation method.
Radiant energy
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- Radiant energy is most commonly used to refer to electromagnetic radiation carried by electromagnetic waves and photons.
- Radiant energy can be measured using instruments such as photometers, which detect the intensity of light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation.
Electromagnetic energy
- Electromagnetic energy is a more general term that refers to any form of energy that is carried by electromagnetic waves, including both radiant energy and other types of energy that are not radiant (e.g., static electric fields).
- The type of energy associated with electromagnetic radiation is a measurable quantity in physics, and its measurement is essential for understanding and analyzing physical systems and processes.
- The unit of measurement for electromagnetic energy in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule (J), which is defined as the amount of energy required to perform one joule of work
- The electronvolt (eV) is another unit of energy commonly used in atomic and subatomic physics.