Unit 1 FOS-P Universe & Its Stars - Wave Properties and Electromagnetic Spectrum

Vocabulary flashcards covering wave types, wave properties, electromagnetic radiation, and wave frequency based on Unit 1 FOS-P lecture notes.

Electromagnetic radiation

The transfer of energy via electromagnetic fields, also known as light.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The full range of all forms of electromagnetic radiation.

Electromagnetic fields

Fields generated when charged particles, such as electrons and protons, move.

Wave

A disturbance that transfers energy from one location to another through the oscillation or vibration of particles.

Mechanical wave

A wave in which energy is transferred through the oscillation or vibration of particles in a specific medium, such as air or water.

Electromagnetic wave

A wave in which energy is transferred through the oscillation of photons; it does not require a medium and can travel through space.

Photon

A particle whose oscillation transfers energy in an electromagnetic wave.

Transverse wave

A wave in which particles are displaced perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.

Crest

The highest point or top of a wave.

Trough

The lowest point or bottom of a wave.

Equilibrium

The resting position of a particle in a wave.

Transverse wavelength

The distance from crest to crest or trough to trough.

Transverse amplitude

The height of a wave measured from the equilibrium position to a crest or trough.

Longitudinal wave

A wave in which particles are displaced parallel to the direction the wave travels.

Compression

An area in a longitudinal wave where particles are close together.

Rarefaction

An area in a longitudinal wave where particles are the farthest apart.

Longitudinal wavelength

The distance from compression to compression or rarefaction to rarefaction.

Longitudinal amplitude

A measure of how spaced out particles are in a longitudinal wave.

Frequency

A measure of how many waves pass a fixed point in a certain amount of time, measured in Hertz ($Hz$).

Period

The time in seconds it takes to complete one cycle or oscillation.

Frequency formula

The mathematical relationship $f = \frac{n}{T}$, where $f$ is frequency, $n$ is the number of oscillations or cycles, and $T$ is the period in seconds.