Wave Properties
Define amplitude.
Amplitude is the distance between the resting point and either the crest or trough of a wave.
List three different examples of waves.
Answers vary, up to the judge.
When light bounces off of a surface at an equal/opposite angle:
Reflection
Convert to binary: 5
101
Give three examples of natural resources available in our ecosystem.
Answers vary
Define wavelength.
Wavelength is the distance between two equal points on a wave. Usually measured crest-to-crest or trough-to-trough.
What is a medium?
A substance that waves can travel through.
When light travels from one medium to another with a different density:
Refraction
Convert to decimal: 1011
11
Something that can be infinite values within a certain range is:
Analog
What units do we measure frequency in?
Hertz
Waves involve the transport of __________ without the transport of ___________.
Energy, matter
What is the incident angle?
The angle of the incoming beam of light before it is reflected or refracted.
Convert to binary: 17
10001
Something that can only be specific values within a certain range is:
Digital
Define frequency.
Frequency is the number of times a wave cycles per second.
What state of matter (solids, liquids, gasses) do sound waves travel through fastest? Explain.
Sound waves will travel fastest through solids because they are the most dense.
A beam of light travels from air into water with an incident angle of 35o. Calculate the reflected angle.
35o
Convert to decimal: 110101
53
Name two ways that climate change can negatively impact our environment.
Answers vary.
What's the difference between a transverse and a longitudinal wave?
A transverse wave vibrates perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. A longitudinal wave vibrates parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
Can sound waves travel through a vacuum? Explain.
Sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum because they require a medium to travel through. The vacuum of space is empty, so there is no medium to carry the sound wave.
Why does shining white light through a prism produce a rainbow?
White light is composed of all the colors of light. The different colors of light have different wavelengths. The angle of refraction is relative to the wavelength of light.
Convert to binary: 137
10001001
What is the difference between climate change and global warming?
Global warming is a symptom of climate change.