waves

Wave- a repeating disturbance

that transfers energy through

matter or space

b. Medium - matter through which a

wave travels

c. Frequency- the number of

wavelengths that pass a fixed

point each second

d. Wavelength- the distance between

one point on a wave and the

nearest point just like it

e. Amplitude- a measure of the size

of a disturbance from a wave

f. Transverse wave- particles in the

medium move at right angles

(perpendicular) to the direction the

wave is traveling

g. Longitudinal wave- particles in the

medium move along the same

direction (parallel) to the direction

the wave is traveling

h. Reflection - light bounces o￾ an

object

i. Refraction- bending of a wave,

caused by the wave’s change in

speed as it travels from one

medium to another

j. Transmission- a movement of a

wave through a medium

k. Absorption - the transfer of energy

to matter, an object absorbs the

energy from the wave

l. Scattering- waves are caused to

depart from a straight path due to

various surfaces on an object, and

reflection in many directions

m. Di￾raction- bending of a wave

around an object

n. Mechanical wave- a wave that is

an oscillation of matter and is

responsible for the transfer of

energy through a medium

o. Electromagnetic wave- Waves

created by vibrating electric

charges

p. Electromagnetic spectrum- shows

the range of wavelengths or

frequencies over which

electromagnetic radiation extends

q. Opaque- materials only absorb and

reflect light; not light passes

through.

r. Translucent -materials transmit

light but also scatter it

s. Transparent -materias transmit

light without scattering it, you can

see objects clearly through them.

t. Sound-a vibration that spreads as

an acoustic wave through a

medium

Are frequency and wavelength inversely or directly proportional? Inversely proportional

3. What is frequency measured in? Hertz

4. What is wavelength measured in? meters

5. What is the formula for calculating a wave’s velocity? m/s

11. Which waves can travel without a medium? electromagnetic

12. Which waves must travel through a medium? Mechanical

13. What do waves carry/move? Energy

14. Put the waves on the electromagnetic spectrum in order from longest wavelength to shortest

wavelength. Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, Gamma Rays

15. What does ROY G BIV stand for? What is it used for? Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.

It is use as a short term for the colors of the rainbow.

16. Put the visible light spectrum in order from highest frequency to lowest frequency. Violet, Indigo,

Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red

17. List an example use for each of the following wavelengths:

a. Radio waves- cell phone or a tv

b. Microwaves- A microwave

c. Infrared waves- remote control

d. Visible light - rainbow

e. Ultraviolet rays- tanning bed

f. X-rays - machine that doctors use to see broken bones

g. Gamma rays- rays to kill cancer cells

18. Why does a red apple appear red? because it reflects red wavelengths of light while absorbing

other colors

19. The color we see is reflected to our eyes.

20. What colors of light make up white light? A combination of all colors in the color spectrum

21. What causes an object to appear black? when it absorbs almost all wavelengths of visible light and

reflects very little to none back to our eyes

22. Pitch is related to which property of a wave? frequency

23. What happens in terms of sound waves when a person yells? the sound waves produced have a

higher amplitude and may encompass a wider range of frequencies compared to a whisper