Vocabulary
Define "absorb"
to take light or energy in and contain it rather than reflecting it
Unlike sound, ______________________ can travel through the empty space of vacuum.
Unlike sound, LIGHT can travel through the empty space of vacuum.
What type of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum causes skin sunburns?
a) Radio waves
b) Infrared light
c) Ultraviolet light
d) Microwaves
c) Ultraviolet light
When you speak into a handheld two-way radio (walkie-talkie), what form of energy does your voice produce?
Sound/motion energy.
define "vibration"
the rapid back and forth motion of an object or material
Waves do not carry matter forward, but they do transfer ______________________ from place to place.
Waves do not carry matter forward, but they do transfer ENERGY from place to place.
Which wave model represents the LOUDEST sound?
a) A wave line with very short distance between crests
b) A wave line with a very tall crest and deep trough (high amplitude)
c) A wave line with a low crest and shallow trough (low amplitude)
d) A wave line that is completely flat
b) A wave line with a very tall crest and deep trough (high amplitude)
A leaf is floating on the surface of a calm pond. You drop a pebble into the water near the leaf.
a. Describe how the leaf moves when the water ripple reaches it.
b. Does the leaf get pushed all the way across the pond by the wave pattern? Why or why not?
The leaf bobs up and down on top of the wave. It does not get pushed across the pond because the wave transfers energy through the water, while the water particles and leaf stay in mostly the same position.
define "crest"
The highest part of a wave
The moon does not produce its own light; we see it because of the ______________________ of sunlight off its surface
The moon does not produce its own light; we see it because of the REFLECTION of sunlight off its surface
If a material blocks ALL light from passing through it and casts a dark shadow, it is:
a) Transparent
b) Translucent
c) Opaque
d) Reflective
c) Opaque
Imagine two ships at sea on a foggy night trying to warn each other about rocks.
Solution 1: Using a flashing light signal (Lighthouse/Searchlight).
Solution 2: Using a foghorn sound signal.
Compare these two solutions. Which signal is better in thick fog, and why?
Solution 2 (foghorn sound signal) is better because fog blocks visible light waves (translucent/opaque obstruction), whereas sound waves can travel through fog and alert the other ship.
define "signal"
A symbol or message sent over a distance
Sunflowers face the sun to catch as much ______________________ energy as possible for photosynthesis.
Sunflowers face the sun to catch as much LIGHT/SOLAR energy as possible for photosynthesis.
Which device converts electrical energy into light energy?
a) Solar panel
b) Filament light bulb
c) Phonograph record player
d) Foghorn
b) Filament light bulb
Students are designing a solar-powered toy car. The solar panel converts light energy into electrical energy to turn the motor. During testing, the car moves very slowly under classroom lights. State one change the students could make to test and refine their design so the car moves faster.
Students could use a brighter light source (higher amplitude/intensity light), increase the size/number of solar panels, or use lighter materials on the car to reduce friction/weight.
define "wavelength"
The distance from one crest of a wave to the next crest.
Cell phones and wireless Wi-Fi routers transmit information using _________________.
Cell phones and wireless Wi-Fi routers transmit information using RADIO WAVES.
Why do we see a shirt as the color blue?
a) The shirt absorbs blue light and reflects all other colors.
b) The shirt reflects blue light wavelengths back to our eyes and absorbs the other colors.
c) The shirt generates its own light waves.
d) Blue light waves travel slower than red light waves.
b) The shirt reflects blue light wavelengths back to our eyes and absorbs the other colors.
Why are digital codes (like binary 0s and 1s) widely used in modern devices like tablets and cell phones instead of simple analog signals?
Digital codes break information into clear patterns (0s and 1s) that can be easily transmitted over long distances without losing quality or suffering from noise/interference like continuous analog signals.