Waves

Question 1

Medium

Answer 1

A substance through which a wave moves

Question 2

Mechanical Wave

Answer 2

A wave, such as sound wave or seismic wave, that transfers kinetic energy through matter.

Question 3

Transverse Wave

Answer 3

A type of wave in which the disturbance moves at right angles, or perpendicular, to the direction in which the wave travels

Question 4

Longitudinal Wave

Answer 4

A type of wave in which the disturbance moves in the same direction that the wave travels

Question 5

Crest

Answer 5

The highest point, or peak, of a wave

Question 6

Trough

Answer 6

The lowest point, or valley, of a wave

Question 7

Amplitude

Answer 7

The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position; the distance between the crest or trough of a wave and line through the center of the wave

Question 8

Wavelength

Answer 8

The distance from one wave peak or crest to the next peak or crest. Wavelength can be measured as the distance from any part of one wave to the identical part of the next wave

Question 9

Frequency

Answer 9

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, usually one second; the number of cycles per unit time

Question 10

Reflection

Answer 10

The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier

Question 11

Refraction

Answer 11

The bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between to mediums at an angle other than 90 degrees

Question 12

Diffraction

Answer 12

The spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an obstacle

Question 13

Interference

Answer 13

The meeting and combining of waves; the adding or subtracting of wave amplitudes that occurs as waves overlap

Question 14

Electromagnet Wave

Answer 14

A type of wave, such as a light wave or radio wave, that does not require a medium to travel; a disturbance that transfers energy through a field

Question 15

Radiation

Answer 15

Energy that travel across distances in the form of electromagnet waves

Question 16

Electromagnet Spectrum

Answer 16

The range of all electromagnetic frequencies, including the following types (from lowest to highest frequency): radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays

Question 17

Radio Waves

Answer 17

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with the lowest frequencies

Question 18

Microwaves

Answer 18

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves higher frequencies than radio waves, but lower frequencies than infrared waves

Question 19

Visible Light

Answer 19

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves detectable by the human eye

Question 20

Infrared Light

Answer 20

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with frequencies between those of microwaves and visible light

Question 21

Ultraviolet Light

Answer 21

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with lower frequencies higher than those of visible light and lower than those of x-rays

Question 22

X-rays

Answer 22

The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with high frequencies and high energies; electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from more than 10 16 hertz to more than 10 21 hertz

Question 23

Wave

Answer 23

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance