The EM-azing Spectrum
Which type of EM wave has the lowest frequency?
radio waves
What wave behavior allows us to see the color of objects?
reflection
solid
What causes sound waves to form and travel through a medium?
vibrations
Name the two types of lenses.
concave and convex
What determines the different colors we see in visible light?
The different wavelengths.
How does the angle at which a wave hits a surface affect the way it reflects off that surface?
The angle that the light hits equals the angle of reflection.
What is the only medium in which light waves can travel without needing matter?
a vacuum
What property of a sound wave determines how loud or soft it sounds?
amplitude
How does a convex lens change the path of light rays passing through it?
It bends the light rays toward each other.
Name two practical uses for infrared waves.
What happens to the speed of light when it enters a medium that is more dense?
It decreases.
What wave property occurs because waves travel at different speeds through different mediums?
refraction
What characteristic of a sound wave determines its pitch?
frequency
Why can you see light through a translucent object but not a clear image?
Only some light passes through.
What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum?
Wavelength and frequency are inversely related: as wavelength increases, frequency decreases, and as wavelength decreases, frequency increases.
What sound wave behavior lets us hear someone talking around the corner even if you can’t see them?
diffraction
What is the fastest speed in the universe?
the speed of light: about 300,000 km/s
Describe the sound of a low energy, high frequency wave.
quiet, high pitch
What does a convex lens do to an image?
It makes the image larger.
Why are X-rays useful for imaging bones?
X-rays can pass through soft tissues but are absorbed by dense materials like bones.
How do noise‑canceling headphones use wave behavior to reduce sound?
(destructive) interference
How much faster does sound travel in water than air?
about 4 times faster
Which three wave properties all increase when a sound becomes louder?
energy, intensity, amplitude
What happens to light when it hits an opaque object?
It is either absorbed or reflected.