Study Guide Light & Sound

What is a wave?

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another

How do they move and what starts them?

Particles move perpendicular to wave motion or particles move parallel to wave motion and they start when there is a disturbance creating a wave

What are the two main types of waves?

Electromagnetic wave and mechanical wave

What makes those two main types of waves different from each other?

Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium but mechanical waves do & mechanical waves can be transverse or longitudinal but electromagnetic is only transverse

What are the two types of mechanical waves?

Longitudinal and transverse

What makes a longitudinal wave different from a transverse wave?

Longitudinal pieces goes side to side and is parallel but transverse is perpendicular particles moving up and down

How does changing the frequency affect the wavelength?

As frequency increases, the wavelength decreases. High frequency = short wavelength

When a wave carries more energy how does the wave change?

The amplitude (height) increases

What affects a wave’s energy more - amplitude or frequency?

Amplitude, bigger amplitude = more energy

What is sound?

Energy that travels by vibrations through the air (or another medium) can be heard when they reach an ear

How does sound travel?

Through a medium (matter) and the particles moves outwards in all direction

What type of wave does sound travel?

Longitudinal that requires a medium

What factors affect the speed that sound travels?

Higher temperature increases speed and the medium (matter) best in solids

How does frequency and amplitude of a wave impact the type of sound that we hear?

Frequency: Pitch: High frequency: high pitch: Low frequency: Low pitch

Amplitude: Volume High amplitude: loud sound: Low amplitude: quiet sound

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

The full range of electromagnetic waves

How do scientists sort the waves on the spectrum?

Organized by wavelength, frequency, & energy

Can you name the different ways that are a part of the spectrum?

Radio Waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet (UV), X-rays, Gamma Rays

What is light?

Light is electromagnetic energy visible to the human eye

How does light travel?

In a straight line and can travel through space

What type of wave does light travel?

Electromagnetic transverse (no medium)

What factors affect the speed that light travels?

The medium, travels fastest in (gas) space and slower in solids

What are the four types of wave interactions (transmission, absorption, reflection, refraction)?

Absorption: When material absorbs or takes in matter

Transmission: A wave passes through a material

Reflection: When light strikes a surface and bounces back

Refraction: The bending of light as it passes from one medium into another

Give examples of each type?

Absorption: Black shirt absorbing sunlight

Transmission: Light traveling through a window

Reflection: Seeing yourself in a mirror

Refraction: A straw looking bent in water

How do we see color?

Objects absorb some colors and reflect others and we see the reflection of the colors

White objects: Reflect all visible light

Black objects: Absorb all visible light