Wave Properties and Light Behavior

These flashcards cover vocabulary related to wave properties, light behavior, and optical images.

Crest

The highest point of a transverse wave.

Trough

The lowest point of a transverse wave.

Wavelength

Distance between two consecutive crests or troughs.

Wave Velocity

Speed at which the wave travels.

Amplitude

Maximum displacement from rest position.

Medium

Material through which a wave travels.

Boundary

Interface between two different media.

Frequency

Number of cycles per second.

Period

Time for one full cycle.

Reflection

Wave bounces back after hitting a boundary.

Refraction

Wave bends as it passes into a new medium.

Diffraction

Wave bends around obstacles or through openings.

Polarization

Waves vibrate in only one plane.

Interference

Overlapping waves combine (constructive or destructive).

Doppler Effect

Change in frequency due to motion of source/observer.

Red Shift/Blue Shift

Red shift: longer wavelength (moving away); Blue shift: shorter wavelength (moving toward).

EM Spectrum

Full range of electromagnetic waves by frequency/wavelength.

Real Image

Formed when rays actually meet (can project on screen).

Virtual Image

Formed when rays only appear to meet (cannot project).

Inverted Image

Image that is upside-down.

Convex Lens

Curves outward (lens that brings rays together).

Concave Lens

Curves inward (lens that spreads rays apart).

Snell’s Law

Describes refraction; n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂.

Index of Refraction

How much a material slows light.

Standing Wave

Wave that appears stationary (nodes/antinodes).

Natural Frequency

Frequency at which an object naturally vibrates.

Resonance

Large amplitude vibration at natural frequency.

Wave-Particle Duality

Light acts like both a wave and a particle (photon).