Mechanical vs Electromagnetic Waves
What type of wave requires matter to travel?
Mechanical wave
What happens when a wave bounces off a surface?
Reflection
What happens when a wave passes through a material?
Transmission
What is the bending of a wave called?
Refraction
Which travels faster: sound or light?
Light
What type of wave can travel through empty space?
Electromagnetic wave
What object is commonly used to reflect light?
Mirror
What happens when a material takes in wave energy?
Absorption
What happens to a wave's speed when it enters a different medium?
Its speed can change.
Can sound travel through a vacuum?
No
Is sound a mechanical or electromagnetic wave?
Mechanical wave
What causes an echo?
Sound waves reflecting off a surface
Which absorbs more sound: carpet or a hard concrete floor?
Carpet
Why does a straw look bent in a glass of water?
Light refracts as it moves between water and air.
Can light travel through a vacuum?
Yes
Is light a mechanical or electromagnetic wave?
Electromagnetic wave
Why do you hear an echo in a large empty room?
Sound waves reflect off the walls and ceiling.
Why are soft materials used in soundproof rooms?
They absorb sound energy and reduce echoes.
Does sound generally travel faster through solids or gases?
Solids
Why do you see lightning before hearing thunder?
Light travels much faster than sound.
Explain why sound cannot travel through space, but light can.
Sound requires a medium, while light does not.
A student shines a flashlight at a mirror. Describe what happens to the light
The light reflects off the mirror and changes direction.
A sound wave travels through a wall and can be heard on the other side. What wave behavior occurred?
Transmission
Explain why light changes direction when it travels from air into water.
Light changes speed as it enters a different medium, causing refraction.
Compare sound and light by explaining one similarity and two differences.
Both transfer energy. Sound requires matter and travels slower, while light can travel through a vacuum and travels faster.