Waves Flashcards
Wave
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another
(does not transfer mass)
Transverse Waves
- A wave disturbance at right angles to the direction it is moving
- Can move through both matter and a vacuum
(I.E. Light)
Longtitudinal Waves
*A wave that moves back
and forth in the same
direction the wave is
traveling
* Can only move through
matter
(I.E. Sound)
(Travels faster in denser masses, opposite of Transverse Waves)
Crest
Top of wave
Trough
Bottom of wave
Amplitude
resting point to crest/trough
Wavelength
Trough to trough/ crest to crest
____ amplitude = _____ energy
More
Frequency
the number of wavelengths that pass a point each
second
EM waves travel through empty space at ________
3 x 10 to the 8th m/s (speed of
light) (used as c in equations)
v = _______
frequency x lambda (wavelength)
Reflection
When a wave bounces off of an object at the same angle that it hit
the surface
The ________ hit the surface at an angle.
incident rays
The ____________ bounce off at the same angle as the incident rays from the
normal.
reflective rays
Transverse waves ________ in speed as they move from a less
dense to a denser medium.
decrease
Refraction
The change in direction and speed of a wave as it moves from one
medium to a different medium (causing it to bend in some form)
Rainbows
When light waves make contact with a water droplet, the light
slows down and refracts (bends).
->The light wave is then reflected off the back of the water droplet
and exits the water droplet.
->The light wave is then refracted again as it exits, showing all the
colors of the rainbow in order of their wavelength (longest to
shortest).
Double Rainbows
When the light reflects twice off of the raindrop
What is the shape of a rainbow?
Full circle
How do prisms work?
As the light enters a
new medium (enters
the glass prism as it
leaves the air) the
light slows down.
-> It bends as it slows
down, scattering the
light into many
colors, then refracts again out the prism causing the rainbow to appear
