Light and Sound Flashcards
What does a wave transfer?
Energy, not matter.
In a transverse wave, how do the particles vibrate?
The vibration of the particles is perpendicular to the direction of energy.
In a longitudinal wave, how do the particles vibrate?
The vibration of the particles is parallel to the direction of energy.
What is a transverse wave?
A wave where the vibration of the particles is perpendicular to the direction of oscillation.
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave where the vibration of the particles is parallel to the direction of oscillation.
In a longitudinal wave, what are areas where the particles are pushed together called?
Compressions.
In a longitudinal wave, what are areas where the particles are spread apart called?
Rarefactions.
What does a louder sound have?
A higher amplitude.
What does a high-pitched sound have?
A higher frequency.
Give an example of a longitudinal wave.
Sound.
Give an example of a transverse wave.
Light (also radio, microwaves, infra-red, UV, X-ray, gamma ray, water).
What is an object that gives off light known as?
Luminous.
How can we see non-luminous objects?
Because light is reflected off the object.
When light hits an object and ‘stops’, what is it known as?
Absorption.
When light hits an object and bounces off, what is it known as?
Reflection.
What is a material that lets light through without scattering known as?
Transparent.
What is an opaque material?
A material that does not let light pass through.
What is an object that scatters light as it passes through known as?
Translucent.
How do the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection compare?
They are equal/the same.
What is the first step in drawing a reflected ray?
Extend the incident line to the surface.