Waves

What are waves?

Waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another without transferring matter.

What are the two main types of waves?

Mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

What do mechanical waves require to travel?

A medium (like air or water).

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

Approximately $3 imes 10^{8} m/s$.

What is a transverse wave?

A wave where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel (e.g., waves on a string).

What is a longitudinal wave?

A wave where the oscillation is parallel to the direction of wave travel (e.g., sound waves).

What is the visible spectrum?

The small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye, ranging from approximately 380 nm (violet) to 750 nm (red).

What does wave-particle duality refer to?

The concept that light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties.

What phenomena can light undergo?

Refraction, reflection, and absorption by different materials.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

The range of all types of electromagnetic waves arranged according to their wavelength and frequency.

List the types of electromagnetic waves in order from longest to shortest wavelength.

Radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, gamma rays.