Waves & Wave Properties
The number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time (how often the waves come) is called
frequency
A transparent piece of glass or plastic is a ________.
Lens
What is an atom?
The smallest piece of matter that makes up everything we can see and touch in the world!
(the smallest piece that keeps the identity of the substance)
Which color has the LOWEST frequency?
Red
Which type of mirror is used in cars to show a wider view?
Convex mirror
What colors of light are being reflected and absorbed by an opaque, GREEN pencil?
Reflected: green
Absorbed: everything else
Explain the difference between sound waves and light waves.
Sound waves are mechanical waves, and they need a medium (matter) to travel through.
Light waves are a type of electromagnetic wave. They can travel through Space (no medium) because they continuously re-create themselves!
The angle at which a light wave hits a mirror will always be equal to the angle at which the light wave bounces off. This is called the
Law of Reflection
Which electrons have the most potential energy - and WHY?
The electrons farthest away from the nucleus have the most potential energy because potential energy increases with height, and these electrons have the potential to fall further down than electrons that are close.
Also, negative electrons are attracted to the positive protons in the nucleus, so it takes energy to keep the electrons away from the nucleus.
How do you know light is a wave? Use your observations of the pictures displayed to defend your answer. Give as many reasons as you can!
Light waves can overlap (interference).
Light waves can be reflected to form an image.
Light beams have "fuzzy" boundaries.
Light can travel through transparent substances, like glass.
Which type of lens can flip images upside-down?Identify the lens type and draw a picture to show why this lens can flip images upside-down.
Convex lens...
Why can you see your reflection in a mirror, but not in white paper?
The mirror is smooth and reflects all the light that hits it in the same direction. This forms an image that you can clearly see. White paper is rough, so it reflects light waves in all different directions and an image is not formed.
Why does brushing tangles out of your hair make hair look shinier?
(*hint: It might help to draw a piece of tangled hair and a piece of straight hair and think about the light reflecting off the hair.)
Straight hair reflects the light that hits it in the same direction... this light enters your eye, and the hair looks shiny! Tangled hair reflects the light that hits it in all different directions.
Why does a pencil look "bent" when you put it in a glass of water? Explain clearly, using science vocabulary. You can draw a picture if you want to to help you explain.
Light refracts, or bends, when it goes from one medium to another - in this case, from air to water. Light waves slow down when they are travelling through water. This means that the light waves hitting the part of the pencil that's in the air will get reflected back toward your eye a little bit quicker than the light waves reflecting off the pencil underwater. This creates an optical illusion!
Why can't we see atoms, even with a regular microscope?
(*hints: 1) Think about what has to happen for us to see something. 2) The wavelength of all the colors of visible light is around the size of a single cell.)
In order for us to see something, light has to bounce off of that object and be reflected back into our eye. Atoms are smaller than light waves, so light can't "bounce off" atoms and come back to our eye!