Wavy Words
This is the height of a wave, measured from its center to its peak.
Amplitude
If a wave’s amplitude increases, the amount of this carried by the wave also increases.
Energy
This happens when a sound wave hits a hard surface and bounces back toward the source.
reflection (or an echo)
This is what occurs when light waves hit a mirror and bounce off.
reflection
This interaction occurs when a wave "bends" as it passes from one material into another, like light moving from air into water.
refraction
This term describes how many waves pass a specific point in a certain amount of time.
Frequency
True or False: A wave with very low energy will have a very high amplitude.
False
Sound waves can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through air, water, and this clear solid material.
glass
When light waves enter a dark, black piece of fabric, most of the light is ____.
absorbed
A rough or bumpy surface will cause light to do this, sending it in many different directions.
scatter
This is the distance between one peak of a wave and the very next peak.
Wavelength
Scientists use this type of representation to show the relationship between a wave's height and its power.
A mathematical or graphical representation
When sound waves hit a soft, thick foam wall, they are most likely to do this.
absorbed
Like sound, light can be transmitted through these two common substances.
water and air (or glass)
This wave interaction explains why a straw looks "broken" or shifted when sitting in a glass of water.
refraction
Scientists use mathematical representations to show how frequency and wavelength change this part of a wave.
Expression of the wave
If you are looking at a graph of two waves and one is much taller than the other, the taller wave has more of this.
Energy
This term describes sound waves passing completely through a material, like hearing music through a thin door.
transmission
This term describes light waves being sent out in many different directions after hitting an uneven surface.
scattering
Besides being reflected or absorbed, waves can also be ____ through materials like glass and air.
transmitted
A simple model for waves must include wavelength, frequency, and this energy-related property.
Amplitude
This specific wave property is the one most directly related to the amount of energy a wave contains.
Amplitude
To explain how sound moves through different materials, students must develop and use one of these.
model
light waves can be reflected, absorbed, or ____ through various materials.
transmitted
Name four of the five ways waves interact with materials listed in the state standards.
refracted, reflected, absorbed, transmitted, or scattered