Vocab

Question 1

Absorption

Answer 1

The disappearance of a wave into a medium. When a wave is absorbed, the energy transferred by the wave is converted into another form of energy, usually thermal.

Question 2

Amplitude

Answer 2

The height of a wave.

Question 3

Crest

Answer 3

The highest point of a wave.

Question 4

Diffraction

Answer 4

The spreading out of waves as they pass through the opening or around the edges of an obstacle.

Question 5

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Answer 5

The range of all electromagnetic frequencies, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultra violet light, x-rays, and gamma rays.

Question 6

Electromagnetic Wave

Answer 6

A type of wave that travels without a medium.

Question 7

Frequency

Answer 7

The number of wavelengths that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time.

Question 8

Gamma Rays

Answer 8

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with the highest frequency.

Question 9

Interference

Answer 9

The meeting and combining of waves.

Question 10

Infrared Light

Answer 10

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with frequencies between those of microwaves and visible light.

Question 11

Longitudinal Wave

Answer 11

A type of wave in which the disturbance moves the same direction the wave travels.

Question 12

Mechanical Wave

Answer 12

A wave that transfers kinetic energy through matter.

Question 13

Medium

Answer 13

A substance through which a wave moves.

Question 14

Microwaves

Answer 14

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with higher frequencies than radio waves, but lower frequencies than infrared waves.

Question 15

Polarization

Answer 15

A way of filtering light so that all waves vibrate in the same direction.

Question 16

Primary Colors

Answer 16

Three colors of light that can be mixed to produce all possible colors. Red, Green, Blue

Question 17

Primary Pigment

Answer 17

Three colors of substances that can be mixed to produce all possible colors. Cyan, Yellow, Magenta

Question 18

Prism

Answer 18

An optical tool that uses refraction to separate the different wavelengths that make up white light.

Question 19

Radiation

Answer 19

Energy that travels across distances in the form of electromagnetic waves.

Question 20

Radio Waves

Answer 20

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with the lowest frequencies.

Question 21

Reflection

Answer 21

The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier.

Question 22

Refraction

Answer 22

The bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between two mediums at an angle other than 90 degrees.

Question 23

Scattering

Answer 23

The spreading out of light rays in all directions as particles reflect and absorb the light.

Question 24

Transmission

Answer 24

The passage of a wave through a medium.

Question 25

Transverse Waves

Answer 25

A type of wave in which the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction the wave is going.

Question 26

Trough

Answer 26

The lowest point of a wave.

Question 27

Ultraviolet Light

Answer 27

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with frequencies higher than those of visible light and lower than those of x-rays.

Question 28

Wave

Answer 28

A disturbance that carries energy from one place to another without having any matter.

Question 29

Wavelength

Answer 29

The distance between two waves.

Question 30

X-rays

Answer 30

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with high frequencies and energies.