Wave Basics (Unit 1)
What is a wave?
A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.
What type of wave is sound and what does sound need to travel?
Sound is a mechanical wave that needs a medium to travel.
What causes electric force between two charged objects?
The attraction or repulsion between charges.
What are the three components of a simple circuit?
A power source, conductive wires, and a load
What happens when two objects with like charges interact?
They repel each other.
What is the difference between a crest and a trough?
A crest is the highest point of a wave, while a trough is the lowest.
How does frequency affect sound?
The frequency of a sound wave determines its pitch (high or low tone).
What are conductors and insulators?
Conductors allow electricity to flow easily; insulators prevent it.
How does adding more loads affect a series circuit?
The energy is divided among the loads, reducing the energy available at each load.
What does a switch do in a circuit?
It creates a controlled break, allowing the user to connect or disconnect the circuit.
Define amplitude.
Amplitude is the maximum displacement (energy) of the wave or the height of the wave.
Name all 4 wave interactions
Reflection, Absorption, Refraction, Transmission
Describe how electricity flows in a circuit.
Electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor in a closed loop.
Whats are 3 examples of conductors?
AMV Metals, Water with Salt, Copper, Aluminum, etc.
What is the role of a battery in a circuit?
A power source that provides energy to push electric charges around the circuit.
What does frequency represent in a wave?
Frequency is the number of cycles per second.
Describe what happens during refraction.
When a wave hits a surface and bends as it passes through the substance.
What is an electric current?
The continual flow of electrons from atom to atom in a continuous loop.
What happens if there is a break in a series circuit?
The Light Bulb will not turn on.
What is the purpose of a load in an electrical circuit?
A load is a device that converts electrical energy into another form of energy, such as light, heat, or motion.
What kind of wave is light, and does it require a medium to travel?
Light is an electromagnetic wave and does not require a medium to travel.
Explain how sound interacts when it hits a smooth, hard surface.
Sound is reflected, producing an echo.
How do protons and electrons interact with each other?
Protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge) attract each other because they have opposite charges.
Define resistance and its unit.
Resistance is the difficulty of the flow of electrons through a material, measured in ohms (Ω).
Electron negative, Proton Positive, Neutron Neutral