Waves

Question 1

What is the primary function of waves?


Answer 1

Waves transfer energy.

Question 2

What are the two classifications of waves?


Answer 2

Longitudinal waves
Transverse waves

Question 3

How do particles in longitudinal waves move?


Answer 3

Particles vibrate back and forth parallel to the energy transfer.

Question 4

How do particles in transverse waves move?


Answer 4

Particles move side to side, perpendicular to the energy transfer, while energy is transferred at 90 degrees.

Question 5

What are examples of longitudinal waves?


Answer 5

Sound and ultrasound.

Question 6

What is included in the electromagnetic spectrum?


Answer 6

Light waves.

Question 7

What is the definition of amplitude in a wave?


Answer 7

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a particle from its rest position.

Question 8

What does the wavelength of a wave represent?

Answer 8

Wavelength is the distance from one point on a wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave.

Question 9

How is frequency measured?


Answer 9

Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Question 10

What happens to waves when they encounter a material?


Answer 10

Waves can be reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through the material.

Question 11

What is the normal line in the context of wave reflection?


Answer 11

The normal line is a line drawn at 90 degrees to the surface where the wave is reflected.

Question 12

What is the approximate speed of sound in air at ground level?


Answer 12

About 330 meters per second.

Question 13

How do sound waves travel through air?


Answer 13

Sound waves travel through vibrations of particles that compress and rarefy the air.

Question 14

What is the frequency range that humans can hear?


Answer 14

From 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).

Question 15

What are seismic waves?


Answer 15

Seismic waves are waves generated by earthquakes or massive underground movements.

Question 16

What are the two types of seismic waves?


Answer 16

• Primary waves (P-waves): Longitudinal, can travel through liquids and solids.
• Secondary waves (S-waves): Transverse, cannot travel through liquids.

Question 17

How do P-waves and S-waves differ in their ability to travel through materials?


Answer 17

P-waves can travel through both liquids and solids, while S-waves can only travel through solids.

Question 18

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?


Answer 18

300,000 kilometers per second.

Question 19

What are the seven main categories of the electromagnetic spectrum?


mnemonic: Rabbits Mate In Very Unique eXpensive Gardens

Answer 19

1. Rabbits = Radio waves
2. Mate = Microwaves
3. In = Infrared
4. Very = Visible light
5. Unique = Ultraviolet
6. eXpensive = X-rays
7. Gardens = Gamma rays

Question 20

How does the wavelength change across the electromagnetic spectrum?


Answer 20

Wavelength decreases from radio waves to gamma rays.

Question 21

What types of waves do we detect during an earthquake?


Answer 21

Primary and secondary waves

Question 22

What does the detection of primary and secondary waves tell us?

Answer 22

It informs us about the structure of the Earth beneath us

Question 23

What happens to the wavelength and frequency as you move from radio waves to gamma rays?


Answer 23

The wavelength decreases and the frequency increases

Question 24

Why are higher frequency electromagnetic waves considered more dangerous?


Answer 24

They are more ionizing

Question 25

How are microwaves used in communication?


Answer 25

They are used in mobile phones and satellite communication

Question 26

What is infrared radiation used for?


Answer 26

Heating and night-vision technology

Question 27

What is visible light used for?


Answer 27

Fiber-optic communication

Question 28

What are some applications of ultraviolet light?

Answer 28

Energy-efficient lamps and sun tanning

Question 29

What is refraction?

Answer 29

It is the change in direction of a wave when it meets a different medium

Question 30

What happens to light when it passes through a glass block?


Answer 30

It changes direction due to a change in speed

Question 31

What are the two main types of lenses?


Answer 31

Convex and concave lenses

Question 32

How does a convex lens affect light?

Answer 32

It brings light rays together at a point

Question 33

How does a concave lens affect light?


Answer 33

It spreads light rays apart

Question 34

What type of image does a concave lens produce?


Answer 34

A smaller virtual image

Question 35

How does colour relate to the visible spectrum?


Answer 35

Each color has its own frequency and wavelength

Question 36

What happens when green light passes through a green filter?

Answer 36

All of the green light gets through

Question 37

What happens when green light hits a red filter?


Answer 37

No light gets through

Question 38

Why does a red object appear red?


Answer 38

It reflects red light and absorbs other colors

Question 39

How does the Earth's energy balance relate to global warming?

Answer 39

If the Earth absorbs more energy than it emits, its temperature rises

Question 40

What role do greenhouse gases play in the Earth's temperature?


Answer 40

They make it harder for energy to escape, contributing to temperature rise

Question 41

What are the uses of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Answer 41

Radio: Television and radio communication Microwaves: Mobile phones and satellite communication Infrared: Heating and night-vision technology Visible light: Fiber-optic communication Ultraviolet: Energy-efficient lamps and sun tanning X-rays: Medical imaging and treatment Gamma rays: Medical treatment

Question 42

What is the process of refraction?


Answer 42

1. A wave meets a different medium. 2. The wave changes speed and direction. 3. The wave front hits the surface at different times. 4. One side slows down before the other, causing a change in direction.

Question 43

How do colors interact with filters?


Answer 43

A green filter allows green light to pass through. A red filter allows red light to pass through. Combining filters can block all light if no common color is present.

Question 44

what are the three rules for refraction in a convex lens?

Answer 44

1) an incident ray parallel to the axis refracts through the lens and passes through the principal focus on the other side 2) an incident ray passing through the principal focus refracts through the lens and travels parallel to the axis 3) an incident ray passing through the centre of the lens carries on in the same direction

Question 45

what are the three rules for refraction in a concave lens?

Answer 45

1) an incident ray parallel to the axis refracts through the lens, and travels in line with the principal focus (so it appears to have come from the principal focus) 2) an incident ray passing through the lens towards the principal focus refracts through the lens and travels parallel to the axis 3) an incident ray passing through the centre of the lens carries on in the same direction

Question 46

what two ways can waves be reflected?

Answer 46

- diffuse reflection: when a wave is reflected by a rough surface and the reflected rays are scattered in lots of different directions - specular reflection: when a wave is reflected in a single direction by a smooth surface.