Waves Flashcards
Wave
A disturbance that carries energy through matter and space
What needs to be done in order to create waves?
Must be a change made by adding energy to a system
- the bigger the disturbance (energy) the bigger the wave
- the farther the wave travels, the less intense
How do waves transfer energy?
Through a media, vibrates particles and transfers energy
Medium
Matter a wave travels through
Mechanical Waves
Waves that require a medium
Electromagnetic Waves
Waves that don’t require a medium/ A wave that can travel through empty space
Transverse Waves
A wave that causes particles of a medium to vibrate up & down, in the direction of the wave
Wave Length
A measure of how long the wave is taken from one wave to the same point on the next wave
- The longer the wave length, lower energy, levels are less dangerous
- the shorter the wave length, higher energy, levels are more dangerous
Amplitude
The height of a crest
- Low amplitude, lower energy, less dangerous
- High amplitude, higher energy, more dangerous
Longitudinal Waves
A wave that causes the particles of a medium to vibrate back & forth in the direction of the wave
Compression
Point on the wave where the particles are closer together
Rarefaction
Point on the wave where the particles are spread apart
What would compression be equal to on a wave?
The crest
What would the rarefaction be equal to on a wave?
The trough
What are the properties of waves?
Wave length and Frequency
Loudness
The human perception of intensity
Pitch
A term related to the frequency and increases as frequency increases
Doppler Effect
The motion between an observer and a moving object creates a change in frequency
Frequency
Number of waves per second
Constructive Interference
When 2 waves completely overlap producing a wave with a larger amplitude
Destructive Interference
When 2 waves do not overlap producing a wave with a smaller amplitude
Resonance
The vibrating back and forth of a wave
Do loud sounds travel faster than soft sounds?
No, the only difference is the intensity
Would sound travel in an oven or a freezer?
In an oven because the particles are moving faster
Does the pitch of a sound affect its speed?
No, only the frequency changes
Which doesn’t belong with the rest of the terms?:
Loudness, Pitch, Amplitude and Volume
Loudness is volume. You change volume by changing amplitude.
Pitch is related to frequency
Would sound travel faster in a solid, liquid or gas?
Solid, particles are more compact/ closer together which means easy to transfer
Which wave would travel the fastest in a vacuum, light or sound?
Light, doesn’t require a medium
Radiation
The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
Infrared radiation has a wavelength slightly longer than ____________.
Microwaves
____________ radiation has a higher frequency than visible light
Ultraviolet
Objects containing heat can emit ____________.
Infrared radiation
______________ have the lowest energy
Radio waves
Radio waves are radiation with very long _______________ and low frequencies.
Wave lengths
____________ have the highest frequency of all electromagnetic waves.
Gamma rays
Ozone in Earth’s atmosphere blocks most of the sun’s____________.
Infrared rays
____________ are radio waves with the highest frequency and energy
Microwaves
True or false: Gamma rays travel faster than visible light
False, same speed as light but frequency changes
