Year 9 Physics - Sound and Light

The Doppler Effect and Sound Intro

• pitch corresponds to frequency, so we can hear 20 - 20,000 Hz

• too high to hear are ultrasounds

• some high or loud sounds can be damaging to our ears

• we use decibels to measure noise, which are logarithmic

• the closer the source, the higher the pitch - the further away the source, the lower the pitch

• this is because the waves emitted before catch up with the sound and increase the frequency of the new waves being emitted

Light Intro

• light is a type of energy that travels in waves

• any time of energy given off by objects as waves or particles is called radiation, so light is a type of radiation

• light is the only electromagnetic radiation humans can see

• the full range of electromagnetic radiation is called the electromagnetic spectrum

• all electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light

• electromagnetic waves vary due to their wavelength, as this relates to the amount of energy transferred

  short wavelength - high energy

  long wavelength - low energy

• EMR - shows wave-like properties as it travels through space, and moves in a straight line

• electromagnetic radiation varies both relative to frequency and wavelength

X-Ray

• shorter wavelength, higher energy

• travels through materials differently - can be used for medical analysis

Microwave

• longer wavelength and lower energy

• absorbed by certain materials, such as food, which in turn heats it up