Key Words - waves and the electromagnetic spectrum

Question 1

amplitude

Answer 1

the size of vibrations or the maximum distance a particle moves away for its resting position when a wave passes

Question 2

electromagnetic waves

Answer 2

a group of waves that all travel at the same speed, in a vacuum, and are all transverse

Question 3

frequency

Answer 3

the number of vibrations (or the number of waves) per second

Question 4

hertz

Answer 4

the unit for frequency. one hertz=one waves per second

Question 5

longitudinal wave

Answer 5

a wave where the particles vibrate in the same direction as the wave is travelling

Question 6

medium

Answer 6

any substance through which something travels

Question 7

period

Answer 7

the time taken for one complete wave to pass a point.

Question 8

seismic waves

Answer 8

vibrations in the rock of the earth caused by earthquakes or explosions

Question 9

what are the types of seismic waves

Answer 9

there are transverse and longitudinal seismic waves

Question 10

sound waves

Answer 10

vibrations in the particles of a solid, liquid or gas, which are detected by our ears and heard as sounds

Question 11

what types of waves are sound waves

Answer 11

sound waves are longitudinal waves

Question 12

transverse waves

Answer 12

a wave where the vibrations are at right angles to direction the wave is travelling

Question 13

velocity

Answer 13

the speed of an object in a particular direction.

Question 14

wave

Answer 14

a way of transferring energy or information

Question 15

wavelength

Answer 15

the distance between a point on one wave and the same point on the next wave

Question 16

interface

Answer 16

the boundary between two materials

Question 17

normal

Answer 17

an imaginary line at right angles to a surface where a ray of light hits it

Question 18

infrared

Answer 18

electromagnetic radiation that has a longer wavelength than visible light but shorter than microwaves

Question 19

how are humans effected by infrared

Answer 19

we can feel infrared radiataion as warmth

Question 20

refraction

Answer 20

the change in direction when a wave goes from one medium to another

Question 21

ultraviolet

Answer 21

electromagnetic radiation that has a shorter wavelength than light but a longer wavelength than X-rays

Question 22

visible light

Answer 22

electromagnetic waves that can be detected by the human eye

Question 23

angle of incidence

Answer 23

the angle between an incoming light ray and the normal

Question 24

angle of refraction

Answer 24

the angle between the normal and a ray of light that has been refracted

Question 25

incident ray

Answer 25

a ray of light going towards an interface or object

Question 26

refracted ray

Answer 26

a ray of light that has just passed through the interface between two materials

Question 27

electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 27

the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves

Question 28

gamma rays

Answer 28

electromagnetic radiation with a longer wavelength than infrared radiation but a shorter wavelength than radio wave

Question 29

microwaves

Answer 29

electromagnetic radiation with a longer wavelength then infrared radiation but shorter wavelength than radio waves

Question 30

radio waves

Answer 30

electromagnetic radiation with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies

Question 31

visible spectrum

Answer 31

electromagnetic waves that the human eye can detect

Question 32

oscillations

Answer 32

movements back and forth. in radios aerials oscillations are repeated changes in voltage and current

Question 33

fluorescence

Answer 33

absorbing radiation of one wavelength and re-emitting the energy at a different wavelength

Question 34

radiotherapy

Answer 34

cancer treatment in which a patient is given gamma radiation to kill the cancer cells

Question 35

DNA

Answer 35

chemical that makes up genes and chromosomes

Question 36

mutation

Answer 36

a change in the DNA instructions in a cell

Question 37

skin cancer

Answer 37

a cancer or cancerous tumour on the skin