Physics Regents

Transverse Waves

Waves where the particles move perpendicular (up and down) to the direction of the wave (e.g., light waves, waves on a string)

Longitudinal Waves

Waves where the particles move parallel (back and forth) to the direction of the wave (e.g., sound waves).

Doppler Effect

The change in frequency (pitch) of a wave when the source and observer are moving toward or away from each other (e.g., a siren sounds higher as it approaches and lower as it moves away).

Resonance

When an object vibrates at its natural frequency due to matching external vibrations, causing a large increase in amplitude (e.g., breaking a glass with sound).

Scalar

A measurement with only magnitude (size, amount) but no direction (e.g., speed, mass, temperature)

Vector

A measurement with both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force, acceleration).

Amplitude

The height of a wave from its rest position; determines energy (larger amplitude = more energy).

Wavelength

The distance between two identical points on a wave (e.g., crest to crest).

Diffraction

The bending or spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle (e.g., light spreading through a narrow slit or sound bending around corners).

Reflection

The bouncing of a wave off a surface. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Dispersion

The process in which white light separates into colors.