Topic 5 Flashcards
Wave
A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place.
Mechanical Wave
A wave that travels through a medium.
Medium
The matter waves travel through.
Vacuum
Space with no matter
Electromagnetic Radiation
A type of energy.
Electromagnetic Wave
Waves that transfer electromagnetic radiation, and can travel without a medium.
Transverse Wave
Mechanical wave where vibrations travel perpendicular to the direction of the source’s motion.
Amplitude
Distance between the highest crest and the resting point of the wave.
Longitudinal Wave
Mechanical wave where vibrations travel in the same direction as the source’s motion.
Wavelength
A wave’s distance it travels before it repeats.
Frequency
Number of times a wave repeats in a given amount of time.
Rarefraction
A gap between compressions in a wave.
Surface Wave
Combination of transverse and longitudinal waves.
Reflection
When a wave bounces off an obstruction, and heads in a different direction.
Refraction
Bending of waves due to a change in speed.
Diffraction
The bending or spreading of waves as they move around a barrier or pass through an opening.
Absorption
The energy of the wave transfers to the material it encountered.
Standing Wave
A wave appearing to stand in one place.
Resonance
Increase in amplitude of a vibration that occurs when external vibrations match an object’s natural frequency.
Law of Reflection
States the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
Constructive Interference
2 similar sized waves collide to form a wave with a larger amplitude.
Destructive Interference
2 similar sized waves collide to form a wave with a smaller amplitude.
Nodes
Points with zero amplitude.
Antinodes
Points with maximum amplitude of a standing wave.
Loudness
The perception of the energy of a sound.
Intensity
Amount of energy a sound wave carries per second through a unit area.
Decibel
Unit for measuring loudness.
Pitch
How high or low the speed is.
Doppler Effect
The change in frequency of a wave as its source moves n relation to an observer.
Electromagnetic Wave
Vibrating electric and magnetic fields that can move through space at the speed of light.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The complete range of electromagnetic waves placed in order of increasing frequency.
Transparent
Material that transmits most light.
Translucent
Material that scatters the light that passes through it.
Opaque
Material that reflects or absorbs all light.
Diffuse Reflection
Parallel light rays hit an uneven surface.
Convex Mirror
Mirror that curves outwards.
Concave Mirror
Mirror that curves inwards.
Focal Point
Location which rays parallel to the optical axis reflect and meet.
Regular Reflection
Parallel light rays hit a smooth surface.
Optical Axis
An imaginary line dividing a mirror in half.
Plane Mirror
Flat mirror that shows a virtual image.
Virtual Image
An image that forms where light seems to come from.
Color Filter
Tinted piece of glass or plastic.
