What makes electromagnetic radiation?
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy. The light that we see is a type of electromagnetic radiation. However it is only a very small part of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Sound, another form of energy, is not part of this spectrum. Electromagnetic radiation is different from sound in that it can travel in space and does not need a medium like air or water to travel through. Electromagnetic radiation is made when an atom absorbs energy. The absorbed energy causes one or more electrons to change their locale within the atom. When the electron returns to its original position, an electromagnetic wave is produced. Depending on the kind of atom and the amount of energy, this electromagnetic radiation can take the form of heat, light, ultraviolet, or other electromagnetic waves. There are several ways of causing atoms to absorb energy. One way is to excite the atoms with electrical energy. We do this in neon signs. The electricity we put through the neon tubes will excite or a
