G10 4Q Science: Defining Electromagnetic Waves and Their Properties

og flashcards by julia torino, edited by sandibidi

Electromagnetic waves

- are transverse and perpendicular waves

- can travel through a vacuum at the speed of light and do not require a medium
-consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

Transverse waves

a wave in which the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of the wave propagation

Mechanical waves

waves that require a medium to travel

3x10^8 m/s

In a vacuum, all EM waves travel at the speed of light of...

Crest

- the highest point of the wave above the equilibrium (rest) position

- the peak of the wave where the energy is concentrated

Trough

- the lowest point of the wave below the equilibrium position.

- the lowest point where the particles of the medium are displaced the most in the opposite direction to the crest

Amplitude

- the maximum displacement of a point from its equilibrium (rest) position

- it measures how far the particles of the medium move from their equilibrium position during the wave's oscillation

the more energy the wave carries

the larger the amplitude...

Wavelength

- represented by a lambda (λ)
- distance between two crests/troughs.

- referred to as the length of one complete wave cycle

- measured in meters

Frequency

- represented by (f)

-refers to how many complete wave cycles pass a given point per unit of time, typically measured in hertz (Hz).

- is inversely related to wavelength
- directly proportinal to energy

Node

a point where the wave has zero amplitude

inversely proportional

the relationship between frequency and wavelengths is...

directly proportional

the relationship between frequency and energy is...

period

time measured in seconds.

node

point with zero amplitue

equilibrium line

-level of the wave flattened out
-rest position

Oscillation

movement of the waves