Wave Vocabulary Flashcards
Wave
a disturbance caused by a vibration; Waves travel away from the source that makes them.
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance
Primary Pigment
a material that reflects a particular color of light; can be used to change the color of other materials
Three colors of substances ( cyan, yellow an magenta) that can be mixed to produce any possible colors
Polarization
A way of filtering light so that all of the waves vibrate in the same direction
Primary Colors
any of a group of colors from which all other colors can be obtained by mixing
Three colors of light ( red, yellow, blue) that can be mixed to produce all possible colors
Prism
any of a group of colors from which all other colors can be obtained by mixing
An optical tool that uses refraction of light to separate the different wavelengths that make up white light
the process in which electromagnetic radiation or particles are deflected or diffused.
The spreading out of light waves in all directions as particles reflect and absorb the light
Scattering
Absorption
the process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another
The disappearance of a wave into a medium. The energy transferred by a wave is converted into another form of energy
a program or signal that is broadcast or sent out
The passage of waves through a medium
Transmission
a program or signal that is broadcast or sent out
Transmission
Gamma Ray
penetrating electromagnetic radiation of a kind arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei.
Part of the electromagnetic Spectrum that consists of waves with the highest frequencies
X-Rays
an electromagnetic wave of high energy and very short wavelength, which is able to pass through many materials opaque to ligh. The part of the electromagnetic Spectrum that consists of with high frequencies and energies; electromagnetic wave with frequencies ranging from 10 to the sixteenth power to 10 to the twenty first power Hz
Ultraviolet Light
a type of electromagnetic radiation that has a higher frequency than violet light: Ultrviolet light is invisible to humans.
Part of the electromagnetic Spectrum that consists of wave frequencies higher than those or visible light and lower than x-rays
Infrared Light
electromagnetic energy that has a lower frequency than visible light and is beyond the color of red on the light spectrum
Part of the electromagnetic Spectrum that consists of waves with a frequency between those of microwaves and visible light
Microwave
an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength in the range 0.001–0.3 m, shorter than that of a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared radiation
Part of the electromagnetic Spectrum that consists of waves with a frequency higher that radio waves but lower frequencies that infrared waves
Radio Waves
an electromagnetic wave of a frequency between about 104 and 1011 or 1012 Hz, as used for long-distance communication
The part of the electromagnetic Spectrum that consists of waves of the lowest frequencies
Electricity and magnetism combine to produce waves of energy
A type of wave such as a light wave or radio wave that does not require a medium to travel through a disturbance that transfers energy through a field
Electromagnetic Wave
the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization
Energy that travels across distances in the form of electromagnetic waves
Radiation
the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends
The range of all electromagnetic frequencies
Electromagnetic Spectrum
the combination of two or more electromagnetic waveforms to form a resultant wave in which the displacement is either reinforced or canceled
The meeting and combining of waves: the adding or subtracting of wave amplitudes that occur as waves overlap
Interference
the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge, typically accompanied by interference between the wave forms produced
The speeding out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an obstacle
Diffraction
the fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc., being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density
The bending of light as it crosses a boundary between two mediums at an angle other the ninety degrees
Refraction
Reflection
the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it
The bouncing back of a wave after it hits a barrier
Frequency
the rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material (as in sound waves), or in an electromagnetic field (as in radio waves and light), usually measured per second
The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given period of time
the distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.
The distance from one crest to the next wave crest
Wave Length
