Waves Flashcards
What are waves?
Any disturbance that transmits energy through matter or empty space 
Energy is carried _______ from its source
Away
The material the wave moves through is ___ transmitted
Not
Medium
The material or substance a mechanical wave travels through
How do waves transfer energy through a medium?
When a particle vibrates, its energy is past to the next particle, which passes to the next particle like dominoes
Energy is transmitted through a medium
Two main groups of waves
Mechanical and electromagnetic
Must have a medium to travel
Mechanical
Does not need a medium to travel, and may go through empty space or matter, and all travel as a traverse wave.
Electromagnetic waves
- particles vibrate in an up-and-down motion
- Move at right angles relative to the direction of the wave
Transverse
- particles of the medium vibrate back-and-forth along the path of the wave
Longitudinal
- Combination of both transverse and longitudinal
- Forms convections underneath
Surface waves
What do seismic waves and sound waves have in common
They are mechanical waves
What does it mean when the waves amplitude increases?
It’s carrying more energy
What medium do seismic waves travel through?
The ground
What do waves carry from place to place?
Energy, but not matter.
In a wave, what happens to a molecule after it passes energy onto the next molecule in the chain?
It returns to its original resting position
How are electromagnetic waves different from mechanical waves?
Electromagnetic waves can travel through empty space; mechanical waves can’t
Which of the following are electromagnetic waves?
- Water waves
- radio waves
- sound waves
- Seismic waves
Radio waves
What type of waves carry energy at a right angle to the direction of the energy flow?
Transverse waves
How is a wavelength measured?
From crest to crest