Wave World
What are electromagnetic waves? Name 3 types.
Electromagnetic waves are waves of electric and magnetic fields. Examples: Radio waves, X-rays, and visible light.
What is the Doppler Effect? Example?
Change in frequency of a wave based on motion. Example: Ambulance siren pitch changes as it passes
What is the photoelectric effect?
Light can knock electrons off a metal surface, proving light acts like a particle.
What is stellar spectroscopy?
Analyzing light from stars to learn about their composition and motion.
How does Doppler affect your life?
Used in weather apps, radar guns, and car sensors to detect motion.
Which type of electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?
Radio waves have the longest wavelengths.
How is it used to detect motion?
Used in radar guns, weather radar, and astronomy to measure speed and direction
X-rays vs gamma rays in medicine and space?
X-rays: imaging bones. Gamma rays: detect black holes, high-energy events.
Who was Edwin Hubble and what did he find?
He discovered the universe is expanding using redshift.
Name a device that uses radio waves
Cell phones use radio waves to send and receive signals.
What is the dual nature of light and what's a photon?
Light behaves as both a wave and a particle; a photon is a particle of light.
Redshift vs Blueshift—what do they mean?
Redshift: object moving away. Blueshift: object moving closer
2 ways we use microwaves/infrared daily?
Microwaves: cooking and cell phones. Infrared: heat sensing and weather detection.
How do radio telescopes work?
They collect radio waves to study space objects like pulsars and galaxies.
How can infrared help in disasters?
It can detect heat from fires or locate people in search and rescue missions.
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
The full range of all electromagnetic wave frequencies.
How is the Doppler Effect used in medical imaging?
Doppler ultrasound shows blood flow in veins and arteries
What is ultraviolet light used for in astronomy?
Helps observe young stars and hot objects using tools like Hubble.
What is constructive vs destructive interference?
Constructive: waves add up. Destructive: waves cancel each other.
What might gamma-ray observations reveal on Earth?
They could help detect radiation leaks or nuclear events
What is the universal constant for EM waves?
The speed of light (c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s); it’s how fast all EM waves travel in a vacuum.
How does motion of a star affect the light we see?
Stars moving away show redshift, toward us show blueshift.
What are the dangers of UV radiation?
Too much exposure can damage skin and eyes
What is quantum entanglement?
A connection between particles where one affects the other instantly, even at a distance.
How might quantum tech change communication?
Quantum encryption could make data transfer ultra-secure.