Waves Flashcards
Reflection
The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier
Refraction🤔
The bending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle other than 90 degrees
Transmission
The passage of an EM wave through a medium
Absorption
The disappearance of an EM wave through a medium
Medium
Any substance that a wave moves through
Mechanical Waves
Waves that transfer energy through matter
Transverse Wave
A wave that has been set off horizontal or forward of the disturbance
Longitudinal Wave
A wave that travels in the same direction as the disturbance
Crest💡
The highest point or peak of the wave
Trough
The lowest point or valley of the wave
Amplitude
The distance between the middle point of the wave and the crest or trough
Wavelength
The distance between one crest and the next or one trough and the next
Frequency
The number of waves passing a certain point in a certain amount of time
Diffraction
The spreading out of waves through an opening or around the edge of an obstacle
Interference
The meeting and combining of waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum (or EM spectrum)
The range of EM frequencies
Radio Waves
EM waves that have the longest wavelengths the lowest frequencies and the lowest energies
Microwaves
EM waves with shorter wavelengths higher frequencies and higher energies than radio waves
Visible light
The part of an EM spectrum that human eyes can see
Ultraviolet light
part of the EM spectrum consisting of frequencies above those of visible light and particularly below those of x-rays
X-rays
Have frequencies between about 10 to the sixteenth power Hz to 10 to the twenty-first power Hz. Produced by the sun and other stars.
Gamma rays not on test
Frequencies from 10 to the 19 power Hz to 10 to the 24 power Hz. Produced by the sun and by other stars.
Scattering
The spreading out of light rays in all directions because particles reflect and absorb the light.
Polarization
A quality of light in which all of its waves vibrate in the same direction
