Waves in General
What is reflection? (angle of _________)
angle of reflection equals angle of incidence
What is the function of the hairs inside the cochlea of the ear?
Is there such a thing as a wave of “green” light? Explain.
no. it's how our eyes perceive the light.
When does a light wave refract?
passing through different medium
What kind of waves does a GPS use?
Radio waves
Draw a picture of the following:
Diffraction & Refraction
Diffraction - spreading out after going through an opening
Refraction - bending
What did Boyle discover by putting a watch in a vacuum?
Sound can only travel through a medium
Why are objects black?
How does light pass through a concave lens?
Give one example of a concave lens.
scatters light; eyeglasses for near-sightedness, binoculars, telescopes
What can gamma rays do that x-rays cannot do?
Radiotherapy - kill cancer cells; sterilize medical supplies
What is the difference between constructive and destructive interference?
Destructive: waves don't align = lower or no amplitude
Why do you sometimes hear “beats” in music?
The waves don't align.
Explain how rainbows work:
Light enters water droplets and refracts, separating the colors at different angles in the sky.
Describe how a microwave works. Be specific.
Microwaves in box penetrate food and move water molecules which creates heat and internally heats food.
For Fun: Which of these animals can see infrared light?
Barn Owl, Cheetah, Goldfish
Goldfish
Explain the meaning of this equation: f = N/t
frequency is number of waves passing a point per unit time
Explain why guitar strings all have different pitches:
Different thicknesses and materials make them have higher frequencies and thus, different sounds.
Which color has the highest frequency, and which has the lowest?
Violet = highest
Red = lowest
How is a mirage created?
colder air passing over warmer air - light refracts as it passes through both
Where is visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum?
between infrared and ultraviolet
What is the speed of light through air?
3 x 10^8 m/s
What is consonance and dissonance in music?
Consonance - sounds pleasing
Dissonance - does not sound pleasing
How does the human eye work? How can we see things far away and close up?
Eye takes in light and the lens bends to be more convex to concentrate light and see objects closer up.
Which type of wave on the EM spectrum has the highest frequency? Which has the lowest?
Radio - lowest
Gamma - highest
How does radar work? What is an example?
Reflects microwaves or radio waves to measure the distance from objects. Listens for "echoes".
Detect enemy planes and ships; tracking hurricanes