Unit 5 vocabulary: Waves and Light Flashcards
a wave in which particles move perpendicularly to the direction the wave travels
transverse wave
wave
a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another
transverse wave
a wave in which particles move perpendicularly to the direction the wave travels
medium
the material through which a wave travels
a wave in which particles move back and forth parallel to the wave
longitudinal wave
wave period
how much time a wave takes to repeat
the material through which a wave travels
medium
electromagnetic wave
a disturbance in electric and magnetic fields
considered transverse waves
a disturbance in electric and magnetic fields
considered a transverse wave
electromagnetic wave
longitudinal wave
a wave in which particles move back and forth parallel to the wave
how much time a wave takes to repeat
wave period
measure of how far particles in the medium move from their normal rest position
amplitude
a wave that requires a medium
mechanical wave
a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another
wave
wavelength
distance over which the wave’s shape repeats
amplitude
measure of how far particles in the medium move from their normal rest position
distance over which the wave’s shape repeats
wavelength
how many cycles occur in a given amount of time
frequency
mechanical wave
a wave that requires a medium
frequency
how many cycles occur in a given amount of time
a measure of frequency
hertz
symbolic representation of a peak
wavefront
speed at which a wave travels
wave speed
the transfer of energy as EM waves
radiation
wavefront
symbolic representation of a peak
an EM wave with slightly longer wavelengths than red light
infrared
radiation
the transfer of energy as EM waves
the range of frequencies an EM wave can have
electromagnetic spectrum
electromagnetic spectrum
the range of frequencies an EM wave can have
wave speed
speed at which a wave travels
infrared
an EM wave with slightly longer wavelengths than red light
refraction
the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium into another at an angle
materials transmit light but don’t let the light travel straight through
translucent
ultraviolet
an EM wave with slightly shorter wavelengths than violet light
the transfer of light energy to matter
absorbtion
opaque
materials don’t let any light pass through and instead reflect it
translucent
materials transmit light but don’t let the light travel straight through
ocurrs when light is sent in many directions as it passes through a medium
scattering
hertz
a measure of frequency
transparent
matter that transmits light
matter that transmits light
transparent
the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium into another at an angle
refraction
scattering
ocurrs when light is sent in many directions as it passes through a medium
materials don’t let any light pass through and instead reflect it
opaque
an EM wave with slightly shorter wavelengths than violet light
ultraviolet
when light bounces off a surface
reflection
reflection
when light bounces off a surface
absorbtion
the transfer of light energy to matter
