waves

Wave

A repeating disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.

Medium

Matter through which a wave travels.

Frequency

The number of wavelengths that pass a fixed point each second.

Wavelength

The distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point just like it.

Amplitude

A measure of the size of a disturbance from a wave.

Transverse wave

Particles in the medium move at right angles (perpendicular) to the direction the wave is traveling.

Longitudinal wave

Particles in the medium move along the same direction (parallel) to the direction the wave is traveling.

Reflection

Light bounces off an object.

Refraction

Bending of a wave, caused by the wave’s change in speed as it travels from one medium to another.

Transmission

A movement of a wave through a medium.

Absorption

The transfer of energy to matter, where an object absorbs the energy from the wave.

Scattering

Waves are caused to depart from a straight path due to various surfaces on an object, and reflection in many directions.

Diffraction

Bending of a wave around an object.

Mechanical wave

A wave that is an oscillation of matter and is responsible for the transfer of energy through a medium.

Electromagnetic wave

Waves created by vibrating electric charges.

Electromagnetic spectrum

Shows the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.

Opaque

Materials that only absorb and reflect light; no light passes through.

Translucent

Materials that transmit light but also scatter it.

Transparent

Materials that transmit light without scattering it; you can see objects clearly through them.

Sound

A vibration that spreads as an acoustic wave through a medium.

Inversely proportional

The relationship between frequency and wavelength, meaning as one increases, the other decreases.

Hertz

The unit of measurement for frequency.

Meters

The unit of measurement for wavelength.

Wave velocity formula

Measured in meters per second (m/s).

Electromagnetic wave

Waves that can travel without a medium.

Mechanical wave

Waves that must travel through a medium.

Energy

What waves carry/move.

Electromagnetic spectrum order

Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays.

ROY G BIV

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet; used as a mnemonic for the colors of the rainbow.

Visible light spectrum order

Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red (from highest frequency to lowest frequency).

Radio waves use

Used for cell phones or TVs.

Microwaves use

Used in a microwave oven.

Infrared waves use

Used in remote controls.

Visible light use

Example: rainbow.

Ultraviolet rays use

Used in tanning beds.

X-rays use

Used in machines that help doctors see broken bones.

Gamma rays use

Used in rays to kill cancer cells.

Red apple appearance

It reflects red wavelengths of light while absorbing other colors.

Color perception

The color we see is reflected to our eyes.

White light composition

A combination of all colors in the color spectrum.

Black appearance

When an object absorbs almost all wavelengths of visible light and reflects very little to none back to our eyes.

Pitch and wave property

Pitch is related to the frequency of a wave.

Sound waves when yelling

The sound waves produced have a higher amplitude and may encompass a wider range of frequencies compared to a whisper.