Energy Basics
What is energy?
Energy is the ability to cause motion or create change.
What kind of light can we see?
Visible light.
Sound energy travels as what?
Vibrations (sound is vibrations passing through matter).
What is the crest of a wave?
The highest point of a wave.
The transfer of thermal energy is called what?
Heat.
What is kinetic energy?
Kinetic energy is energy of motion (moving energy).
What is reflection?
When light bounces off a surface.
What must exist for sound to travel (matter/empty space)?
Matter (like air, water, or solids).
What is the trough of a wave?
The lowest point of a wave.
Heat transfer by touching is called what?
Conduction.
What is potential energy?
Potential energy is stored energy (energy waiting to be used).
What is absorption?
When an object takes in (absorbs) a light wave.
What does volume describe: loudness or high/low?
Loudness.
What does wavelength measure?
The distance between one wave and the next (ex: crest to crest).
Heat transfer when warm air/water moves is called what?
Convection.
Give 2 examples of energy you might see in a classroom.
lights/electricity, computer/Chromebook, sound from voices, a fan moving air, student moving, pencil sharpening, etc.
What is refraction?
When light bends because it changes speed in a new medium (like water or glass).
What does pitch describe: loudness or high/low?
High or low a sound is.
What is amplitude?
The height of a wave from the midline.
Heat transfer through waves is called what?
Radiation.
Which is NOT a form of energy: electrical, kinetic, potential, friction? Explain why.
Friction is NOT a form of energy because it is a force, not energy.
Light changes speed in a new medium and bends—what is this called?
Refraction.
Why can’t sound travel through outer space?
Because space has no air/matter, and sound needs matter to travel.
Which wave has higher amplitude: a quiet sound wave or a loud sound wave? Explain.
A loud sound wave has higher amplitude because louder sounds have bigger vibrations.
Which is NOT heat transfer: insulation, conduction, convection, radiation? Why?
Insulation is NOT heat transfer—it blocks or slows heat transfer.