Vocab
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another
What is the crest of a wave?
The highest point of a wave
What is a longitudinal wave
When particles move back and forth in the same direction the wave travels
What direction does energy move?
In the same direction as the wave
Why can we not see Infrared and Ultraviolet lights?
Infrared has slightly longer wavelengths than red light
Ultraviolet has slightly shorter wavelengths than violet light
Define a Medium
Material through which a wave travels
What is the trough of a wave?
The lowest point of the wave
What is a transverse wave
When particles move perpendicular to the direction that waves travel
Why would a leaf falling in water create less energy that an earthquake
An earthquake moves more matter and will cause larger vibrations than the leaf
How can a transparent or translucent material appear as a color?
Some material may absorb some colors but allow others to pass through them. The color that is transmitted is the one we see
What is Wave Period? How can it be used to solve for frequency?
The time required for one cycle (one repetition)
Frequency is equal to 1 divided by the wave period
How is the amplitude of a wave measured?
The distance between the rest position and crest
or
The distance between the rest position and trough
What is a mechanical wave
Waves that use a medium
Will a wave with high or low frequency create the most energy?
high
What is refraction of light?
The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another at an angle
What is wave speed and how is it measured?
Wave speed is the rate at which a wave travels through a medium.
It can be measured by multiplying the frequency by the wavelength.
What is wavelength?
The distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave
What is an electromagnetic wave
Disturbances in the electric and magnetic fields
How does frequency affect the energy produced by waves? Which frequency will have the greatest effect on the human body
High frequency produces more energy and can damage human tissues
Low frequencies are absorbed safely
How can light waves interact with matter
Light waves can be transmitted, reflected, absorbed, scattered, or refracted by matter
What is the difference between transparency, translucency, and opacity
Transparency - the ability of light to be fully transmitted through an object
Translucency - the ability of light to be transmitted, reflected and absorbed by an object
Opacity - the ability of light to be reflected or absorbed by an object
What is the rest position of a wave?
Half the distance between the crest and trough
Is the original shape of the material before the waves were formed
How do visible light waves differ from the other waves on the electromagnetic spectrum
Visible light waves are a very small section on the electromagnetic spectrum that produce wavelengths short and long enough for our eyes to see
How does a material affect the energy a wave can carry?
Energy from a wave may be released into the medium, which means that energy is lost as it moves throughout the wave.
Some mediums can cause the wave to lose more energy than others.
Why is the sky blue
As sunlight passes through the air, blue light is scattered first. Blue light appears to come from all directions, so the sky appears blue