Waves (General)
True or False: waves carry matter.
FALSE! Waves carry energy THROUGH matter (a medium).
What are the two types of mechanical waves?
transverse and compressional (aka longitudinal)
What's another name for a compressional wave?
Longitudinal
What is the highest point on a transverse wave called?
Crest
Reflection
What do waves travel through?
A medium.
Give an example of what a mechanical wave passes through.
Solid, liquid OR gas (mediums)
True or false: a compression is a region where particles in a longitudinal wave (like sound or seismic P-waves) are closest together, resulting in a higher density or pressure.
TRUE!
True or False: The lowest point of a transverse wave is called a bottoming point.
FALSE! The lowest point of a transverse wave is called a trough.
What causes an object to appear black?
a) The object reflects black wavelengths.
b) The object absorbs black wavelengths.
c) The object reflects all wavelengths of light.
d) The object absorbs all wavelengths of light.
d) The object absorbs all wavelengths of light.
What are the three mediums waves can travel through?
Solid, liquid or gas (air)
True or false: mechanical waves always pass through mediums.
TRUE! Mechanical waves need to pass through mediums.
Define rarefaction
Region where the particles of the medium are spread out, resulting in a lower density and pressure.
How does a transverse wave move?
The particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction the wave travels
If all colors of light are reflected by a material, what color will the material appear to an observer?
a) black
b) blue
c) red
d) white
d) white
White light, like sunlight, is made up of all the colors of the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). The color we perceive from an object is determined by the wavelengths of light that the object reflects back to our eyes.
A wave is a disturbance or oscillation that travels through a medium (like water, air, or a solid) or through empty space, transferring energy from one place to another.
True or false: a light wave is an example of a mechanical wave.
FALSE! Light is a type of electromagnetic wave.
How does a compressional wave move?
Compressional waves move longitudinally. The motion is in the same, or parallel direction as that of the flow of energy of the wave.
The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs in a transverse wave is __________ and the the maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position in a transverse wave is __________.
Wavelength, amplitude
Which behavior of light waves is responsible for the separation of white light into its components?
Refraction. Remember, light can be bent. When light travels from one medium (like air) to another (like glass or water), it changes direction, a phenomenon called refraction. Different wavelengths of light (which correspond to different colors) are refracted at slightly different angles when passing through a medium. This is because the speed of light varies slightly with wavelength in a given medium. Because different colors bend at different angles, the white light (which is a mixture of all colors) separates into its constituent colors when it passes through a prism or a water droplet, resulting in a rainbow or a spectrum of colors.
______________ waves need a medium to travel through while __________ do not.
Mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves
What are two types of mechanical waves?
transverse and longitudinal (aka compressional)
Draw a compressional wave.
TEACHER CHECK DRAWINGS. Should look like the motion is in the same, or parallel direction as that of the flow of energy of the wave.
What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?
(c) They are inversely proportional. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength. The lower the frequency, the longer the wavelength.
When a wave encounters an obstacle or a narrow opening, it can spread out and bend around the edges. This phenomenon is called diffraction. Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between wavelength and the degree of diffraction?
A. Longer wavelengths diffract more than shorter wavelengths.
B. Shorter wavelengths diffract more than longer wavelengths.
C. Wavelength has no effect on the degree of diffraction.
D. Only electromagnetic waves are affected by diffraction.
A. Longer wavelengths diffract more than shorter wavelengths. The amount of diffraction a wave undergoes depends on its wavelength and the size of the obstacle or opening. Waves with longer wavelengths tend to diffract more than waves with shorter wavelengths.