wave basics
What is the highest point of a wave called
Crest
What type of wave is sound: transverse or longitudinal?
Longitudinal
Light is what type of wave—mechanical or electromagnetic?
Electromagnetic
What is it called when a wave bounces back after hitting a surface?
Reflection
Which type of wave lets us hear music?
Sound waves
What is the lowest point of a wave called?
Trough
Sound travels fastest through what type of medium—solid, liquid, or gas?
Solid
What can light travel through that sound cannot?
A vacuum
When two waves meet and combine to make a bigger wave, it’s called what?
Constructive interference
Which waves are used in cell phones and Wi-Fi?
Microwaves
The distance between two crests is called what?
Wavelength
The loudness of a sound depends on which property of a wave?
Amplitude
What happens to light when it passes from air into water?
It bends
When two waves meet and cancel each other out, it’s called what?
Destructive interference
Which type of waves cause sunburns?
Ultra violet waves
What do we call the number of waves that pass a point per second?
Frequency
What unit is used to measure frequency?
Hertz
Which color of visible light has the shortest wavelength?
Violet
What happens to a wave when it bends through water
Refraction
What type of wave does a doctor use to see inside the body?
X-rays
What is the formula for wave speed?
Speed = wavelength x distance
What happens to sound waves when they bounce off a surface?
They echo
Which color of visible light has the shortest wavelength?
It turns into heat energy
What happens to wave energy as it moves away from its source?
It spreads out and decreases
Earthquake energy travels as what kind of waves?
Seismic waves