waves

What is a wave?

A transfer of energy from one place to another.

Do waves transfer matter?

No, they transfer energy only.

What are the two main types of waves?

Transverse and longitudinal waves.

What is a transverse wave?

A wave where vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of travel.

What is a longitudinal wave?

A wave where vibrations are parallel to the direction of travel.

What is an example of a transverse wave?

Light waves.

What is an example of a longitudinal wave?

Sound waves.

What is amplitude?

The maximum displacement from the rest position.

What does a larger amplitude mean?

More energy is carried by the wave.

What is wavelength?

The distance between two identical points on a wave.

What is frequency?

The number of waves passing a point each second.

What is the unit of frequency?

Hertz (Hz).

What is wave speed?

The speed at which a wave travels.

What is the equation for wave speed?

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength. What does “v” represent in the wave equation?

What does “f” represent in the wave equation?

Frequency.

What does “λ” represent in the wave equation?

Wavelength.

What is the period of a wave?

The time taken for one complete wave.

What is reflection?

When waves bounce off a surface.

What happens to the angle of reflection?

It equals the angle of incidence.

What is refraction?

The change in direction of waves when entering a different medium.

Why do waves refract?

Their speed changes in different materials.

What is diffraction?

The spreading out of waves through gaps or around obstacles.

When is diffraction most noticeable?

When the gap is similar in size to the wavelength.

What is absorption?

When wave energy is taken in by a material.

What happens during absorption?

Wave energy is usually converted to heat.

What is a medium?

A material through which waves travel.

Do sound waves need a medium?

Yes.

Can light waves travel through a vacuum?

Yes.

What type of wave is light?

Transverse electromagnetic wave.

What type of wave is sound?

Longitudinal wave.

How do sound waves travel?

Through vibrations of particles.

What is pitch in sound waves?

How high or low a sound is.

How does frequency affect pitch?

Higher frequency means higher pitch.

What is volume in sound waves linked to?

Amplitude.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

The range of electromagnetic waves.

What are examples of electromagnetic waves?

Radio, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.

Which electromagnetic waves have the longest wavelength?

Radio waves.

Which electromagnetic waves have the shortest wavelength?

Gamma rays.

What is visible light?

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum humans can see.

What colour has the longest wavelength in visible light?

Red.

What colour has the shortest wavelength in visible light?

Violet.

What are seismic waves?

Waves produced by earthquakes.

What is echo?

A reflected sound wave.

How is ultrasound used in medicine?

To create images inside the body.

What is sonar?

The use of sound waves to detect objects underwater.

How are waves useful in communication?

Radio and microwaves carry information.

What is resonance?

When vibrations increase due to matching frequencies.

Why are waves important in science?

They explain sound, light, communication and energy transfer.