Waves Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering wave types, characteristics, behaviors, calculations, and the electromagnetic spectrum from the lecture notes.

Transverse Wave

A wave that oscillates perpendicular to the direction of motion.

Longitudinal Wave

A wave that oscillates with (parallel to) the direction of motion.

Reflection

A wave behavior where waves bounce off a wall and come back, allowing you to see objects that don't themselves emit light.

Refraction

A wave behavior where waves bend as they pass into a new medium, which is the reason why it looks like water is on the road on a hot summer day.

Diffraction

A wave behavior where sound waves bend around a corner allowing them to be heard.

Resonance

A wave behavior where a wine glass starts to vibrate as an opera singer holds perfect pitch.

Interference

A wave behavior where two waves hit each other and make some spots with bigger waves and some with smaller waves.

Doppler Effect

A wave behavior where a car's horn is higher pitched than usual as it moves towards you and the frequency of a wave is lower as it moves away.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Order

The sequence of electromagnetic waves listed from lowest frequency to highest frequency: Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-Ray, and Gamma.

Ionizing Electromagnetic Waves

The waves near the highest frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum: Ultraviolet, X-Ray, and Gamma.

Lowest Frequency Color

Red, which is the visible light color that has the lowest frequency and longest wavelength.

Highest Frequency Color

Violet, which is the visible light color that has the highest frequency and shortest wavelength.