Electromagnetic Waves and Refraction

Question 1

What are EM waves?

Answer 1

Transverse waves that transfer energy from a source to an absorber.

Question 2

What are the 7 groups of EM waves?

Answer 2

Radio waves
Microwaves
Infrared
Visible light 
Ultraviolet
X-Rays 
Gamma Rays

Question 3

Why is there such a large range of frequencies?

Answer 3

Because EM waves are generated by a variety of changes in atoms and their nuclei

Question 4

What is refraction?

Answer 4

When a wave/light bends as it travels into a different density material

Question 5

What does refraction depend on?

Answer 5

How much the wave speeds up or slows down (which usually depends on the density of the material). If a wave slows down, it will bend towards the normal. If it speeds up, it bends away

Question 6

What happens to the wavelength and the frequency when a wave is refracted?

Answer 6

The wavelength changes, but the frequency stays the same

Question 7

What happens to the wave if it is travelling along the normal?

Answer 7

It will change speed, but it is NOT refracted

Question 8

The higher the optical density…

Answer 8

The slower light waves travel through it

Question 9

What are EM waves made up of?

Answer 9

Oscillating electric and magnetic fields