Electromagentic spectrum Flashcards
What is a common way to transmit energy from one location to another?
A common way to transmit energy from one location to another is via a wave.
What is a wave?
A wave is where energy is moved from one location to another, but the particles in between have no overall movement.
Can energy be transmitted without moving any matter?
Energy can also be transmitted without moving any matter.
What are the two categories of waves?
Mechanical (require a medium), and
Electromagnetic (DO NOT require medium).
What is the amplitude?
The amplitude ( ) of a wave is the distance from the centre line (or the still position) to the top of a crest or to the bottom of a trough .
What is the amplitude measured in?
It is usually measured in metres, m and has the symbol, a.
What is wavelength?
Wavelength is like the distance between two adjacent peaks or two adjacent troughs.
Or, wavelength is the time required to complete one full cycle of the wave.
What is wavelength measured in?
It is usually measured in metres, m and has the symbol, λ (lamda).That is, how many wavelengths per second.
What is the frequency of a wave?
Frequency is the number of wave cycles passing a point per unit time.
A higher frequency means a shorter wavelength, and a lower frequency means a longer wavelength.
What are the two categories of waves?
Mechanical (require a medium), and
Electromagnetic (DO NOT require medium).
There are two basic types of wave motion:
longitudinal waves, and
transverse waves.
What is a longitudinal wave?
In a longitudinal wave the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
The wave is seen as the motion of the compressed region, which moves from left to right.
What is a transverse wave?
In a transverse wave the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
These are what you typically think of when you hear the word ‘wave’.
For example, light waves.
How do longitudinal waves move?
particles move backwards and forwards in the same direction of the wave
what is the medium in a wave?
The material through which a wave travels.