Harnessing the Invisible: Light and Sound Waves

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the 'Harnessing the Invisible' lecture notes, covering technological applications of light and sound waves.

Fiber Optics

Technology that transmits digital information and global internet data through thin glass fibers using total internal reflection.

Total Internal Reflection

A process where light signals bounce internally without escaping, ensuring long-distance telecommunications through glass fibers.

Modulation (AM/FM)

The process of altering the frequency and amplitude of electromagnetic waves to allow them to carry complex information over long distances.

Hearing Aids

Devices that modulate and amplify ambient sound pressure to restore environmental awareness for individuals with hearing loss.

Stethoscopes

Instruments that use resonance to conduct small internal body sounds directly through tubes to the physician's ears.

Ultrasound

A medical and industrial imaging technique that generates ultrasonic waves and measures how sound echoes reflect off different internal tissues.

Lasers

Devices that produce a narrow, intensely amplified beam of single-wavelength light focused on a precise focal point.

Monochromatic

A property of laser light referring to its composition of a single wavelength.

Longitudinal Waves

Physical vibrations that travel through the air, characterized by pitch, resonance, and amplitude, forming the basis of sound and music.

Polarization

A technique used in 3D movies where light filters present distinct, refracted images to each eye to simulate physical depth.

Holograms

Freestanding 3D images of objects created through the use of laser light interference and diffraction.

Specific Wavelength Emission

The principle used in traffic lights where distinct wavelengths (red, yellow, green) are used for immediate color absorption and recognition.

Sonar

A system that uses the known speed of sound through water to detect objects and measure distances for marine navigation and exploration.

Echolocation

The method of calculating the travel time of sound reflections to map the geology and contours of the ocean floor.