Wave Basics
This is a repeating disturbance that transfers energy.
Wave
The peak (highest point) of a wave.
Crest
All possible wavelengths of light.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Hypothesized light was made of "corpuscles" (particles).
Bending of a wave when it passes from one medium to another.
Refraction
Most waves (like water or sound) need this to travel.
Medium
The lowest point of a wave.
Trough
The energy of a wave is proportional to this property.
Frequency
Explained the photoelectric effect with particular light
Albert Einstein
Light bounces off a surface at the same angle it struck it.
Reflection
Light is unique because it can travel through this.
Vacuum
Distance between two consecutive crests (or troughs).
Wavelength
Light creates these two oscillating fields perpendicular to one another
Electric, magnetic
Demonstrated dispersion of white light using a prism.
Sir Isaac Newton
Separation of white light into a rainbow by a prism.
Diffusion
A wave that travels through a medium is called this.
Mechanical
Distance from the rest position to a crest or trough.
Amplitude
This experiment found that when light waves pass through two slits, the wave interferes with itself
Double Slit Experiment
Showed the wave nature of light with the double-slit experiment.
Thomas Young
When light strikes a material, some is absorbed and the rest is this.
This is the general term for light waves
Electromagnetic
Number of crests that pass a point per unit time.
Frequency
This is the speed of light in a vacuum (include units).
3 x 108 m/s
Proposed light travels the path of least time.
Pierre de Fermat
The sky is blue because this happens in the atmosphere
Blue light scatters