8 - Waves

• What is the direction of particle movement in transverse waves?

  Perpendicular to the direction of wave travel
• What is the term for the highest point of a transverse wave?

  Crest
• What type of waves are sound waves classified as?

  Longitudinal waves
• What is ultrasound?

  Sound waves with frequencies above the audible range
• What are seismic waves?

  Waves produced by earthquakes
• How do electromagnetic waves transfer energy?

  They transfer energy and information without transferring matter
• What is the unit of frequency?

  Hertz (Hz)
• What does frequency measure in waves?

  The number of wavelengths that pass a point in one second
• What is wave velocity?

  The speed at which a wave travels through a medium
• How is wave velocity calculated?

  Wave velocity = wavelength × frequency
• What is the law of reflection?

  The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
• What happens to light when it reflects off a plane mirror?

  It appears to bounce off the surface
• What is refraction?

  The changing of speed and direction of a wave as it changes medium
• What is amplitude in the context of waves?

  The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position
• What is the time period of a wave?

  The time it takes for one complete wave to pass a given point
• How is frequency related to time period?

  Frequency is the inverse of the time period
• What are seismic waves primarily produced by?

  Earthquakes
• What is a wavefront?

  An imaginary surface representing points of a wave at the same point in their cycle
• What is the wavelength of red light?

  700 nm
• What is the wavelength of violet light?

  400 nm
• What are the properties of waves?

  • Waves transfer energy through oscillations
  • Waves can be transverse or longitudinal
  • Waves have properties such as wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and speed
• What are the types of electromagnetic waves?

  • Radio waves
  • Microwaves
  • Infrared (IR)
  • Visible light
  • Ultraviolet (UV)
  • X-rays
  • Gamma rays
• What are the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves?

  Transverse Waves:

  • Oscillations are perpendicular to wave travel
  • Examples: light waves, water waves

  
  

  Longitudinal Waves:

  • Oscillations are parallel to wave travel
  • Examples: sound waves
• What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

  • A continuous spectrum of electromagnetic waves
  • Ranges from radio waves to gamma rays
  • All travel at the same speed in a vacuum
• What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

  • Wavelength is the distance between waves
  • Frequency is the number of waves passing a point in one second
  • They are inversely related: as one increases, the other decreases
• What is the significance of the visible spectrum?


  • Comprises the range of wavelengths visible to the human eye
  • Includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet
• What is the concept of wave energy transfer?

  • Waves transfer energy without transferring matter
  • Energy is carried through oscillations in the medium
• What is the term for the ray that strikes a surface?

  Incident ray
• What is the angle called that is formed between the incident ray and the normal?

  Angle of incidence
• What does the normal line represent in refraction?

  A perpendicular line to the interface
• What is the angle of refraction when light passes through a substance at 20°?

  20° angle of refraction
• Name two materials mentioned that light can refract through.

  Glass and perspex
• How does light behave when it enters a more dense material?

  It bends towards the normal
• What happens to the speed of light when it enters a denser medium?

  It decreases
• What remains constant when a wave enters a new material?

  Frequency
• What happens to the wavelength when the speed of a wave increases?

  It increases
• Why does a wave bend towards the normal when crossing a boundary?

  One part travels slower than the rest
• What is the unit of frequency?

  Hertz (Hz)
• What is the formula for wave speed?

  Wave speed = frequency x wavelength
• How do you calculate frequency from wave speed and wavelength?

  Frequency = wave speed : wavelength