Waves and Human Footprint

Waves

any disturbance that transmits energy through matter or space.

Crest

Highest point of a wave

Trough

Lowest point of a wave

Frequency

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time

Wavelength

The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave

Amplitude

the height of a wave's crest

per capita

per person

CO2

carbon dioxide

ocean acidification

when CO2 dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which lowers ocean pH

carbon footprint

the total carbon dioxide emissions produced by an individual, group, or location

absorbed wavelengths

light or sound waves that are captured

reflected wavelengths

The color seen when observing an object or when sound waves bounce back as in an echo

scattered light

Light that is reflected into random directions

refracted light

process where light slows down and bends as

it travels from one medium to another; known as "bent light"

diffracted light

the wave changes direction as they pass through an opening or around a barrier

transmitted wavelengths

Waves that pass through a medium

Why is the sky blue?

the atmosphere scatters the light, blue waves lengths are shorter and are scattered more

Why do we have red sunsets?

as the sunlight passes over a greater distance, and we see the longer wavelength yellow and red light.

Overfishing

capturing fish faster than they can reproduce

deforestation

The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.

Overpopulation

too many people in one place for the resources available

Analog Signal

A type of signal where the data is represented by continuous waves.

digital signal

A signal that encodes information as a string of 1's and 0's

Signal

a sound or an action that sends a message-Send Information