Wave Anatomy
The distance from crest to crest of neighboring waves.
Wavelength
These waves have the shortest wavelength and highest energy in the EM spectrum.
Gamma
This type of wave does NOT require a medium to travel
electromagnetic
I will not accept transverse. While both describe light, transverse refers specifically to the fact that the direction of the motion is perpendicular to the direction that the energy is traveling. Ocean waves are also transverse, but certainly not electromagnetic.
This is the material through which a wave travels.
medium
When a sound wave hits a wall and bounces, the echo produced is an example of which type of wave interaction?
reflection
The lowest point of a transverse wave is called this. You must say it and spell it correctly for credit.
trough
The Rainbow's name is Roy G. Biv. Which color in the visible spectrum has the shortest wavelength?
Violet
What type of wave has motion perpendicular to the direction of travel?
transverse
These waves must travel through matter, some form of physical medium.
Mechanical Waves
I will not accept longitudinal. Longitudinal specifically refers to waves whose particle motion travels in the same direction as (parallel to) the energy being transferred.
When waves overlap and the amplitude of the resulting waves increases, we call this _________ _________.
Constructive Interference
The number of waves passing by a certain point per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz).
frequency
Often used to send messages long distances, this type of EM radiation has the longest wavelength.
Radio Waves
Why is electromagnetic radiation better than mechanical for effective communication?
Light (EM) travels faster and further than sound (mechanical)
Sound travels fastest in this state of matter.
solid
When waves spread out after passing through an opening or around an obstacle.
Diffraction
The brightness of a light or loudness of a sound is determined by what aspect of a wave?
amplitude
This region of the spectrum has wavelengths just longer than visible red light and is commonly associated with heat transfer.
infrared
What does the amplitude of a light wave signify about our experience of it?
brightness/intensity
In a longitudinal wave, wavelength in measured compression to compression. What are the areas between compressions called?
rarefactions
When a beam of white light is filtered through a raindrop or other prism, it separates into all the colors of the visible spectrum. What is this wave interaction called?
refraction
A longitudinal wave resembles a spring or a slinky. What are the sections that are tightly packed close together called?
compressions
These waves are used in medical imaging because their wavelengths are short enough to pass through soft tissue but not dense bone.
X- Rays
A scientist measures light from a distant star and notices the wavelengths are stretched out. Identify this effect and explain what it indicates.
the doppler effect. indicates star is moving away from Earth.
The Doppler Effect causes changes in sound coming from moving objects, depending on whether they are coming toward you or moving away from you. Does an ambulance coming toward you have a higher frequency or lower frequency than when it is parked?
higher frequency
Noise canceling headphones work by creating waves that are the exact opposite orientation of outside noise. What type of wave interaction is this an example of?
Destructive Interference