Waves Flashcards
Medium
A medium is any substance that a wave moves through
Mechanical wave
Waves that transfer energy through matter are known as mechanical waves
Transverse wave
In a transverse wave, the direction in which the wave travels in perpendicular, or at right angles, to the direction of the disturbance
Longitudinal wave
In a longitudinal wave the wave travels in the same direction as the disturbance
Crest
A crest is the highest point, of a wave.
Trough
A trough is the lowest point, or valley, of a wave
Amplitude
Amplitude for a transverse wave is the distance between a line through the middle of a wave and a crest or trough
Wavelength
The distance from one wave crest to the very next crest is called the wavelength
Frequency
The number of waves passing a fixed point in a certain amount of time is called the frequency
Reflection
The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier is called reflection
Refraction
Refraction is the bending of a wave as it enters a new medium an angle other then 90 degrees
Diffraction
Diffraction is the spreading out of waves through the opening or around the edge of an obstacle
Interference
Interference is the meeting and combining of waves
Electromagnetic spectrum
The range of of all EM frequencies is known as the electromagnetic spectrum, or EM spectrum
Radio waves
Radio waves are EM waves that have the longest wavelengths, the lowest frequencies, and the lowest energies
Microwaves
Microwaves are EM waves with shorter wavelengths, higher frequencies, and higher energy than other radio waves
Visible light
Visible light Is the part of EM spectrum that human eyes can see
Infrared light
The infrared light part of the spectrum consists of EM frequencies between microwaves and visible light
Ultraviolet light
The ultraviolet light part of the EM spectrum consists of frequencies above those of visible light and partially below those of x-rays
X-Rays
X-Rays have frequencies from about 1016 Hz to 1021 Hz.
Wave
A wave is a disturbance that transfers entry from one place to another
Transmission
Transmission is the passage of an EM wave through a medium
Absorption
Absorption is the disappearance of an EM wave into the medium
Scattering
Scattering is the spreading out of light rays in all directions, because particles reflect and absorb the light
Polarization
Polarization is a quality of light in which all of its waves vibrate in the same direction
Prism
A prism is a tool that uses refraction to spread out the different wavelengths that make up white light
Primary colors
These three colors of light, which can be mixed to produce all possible colors, are called primary colors
Primary pigments
The primary pigments are cyan, yellow, and magenta.
Gamma rays
Gamma rays have frequencies from about 1019 Hz to more than 1024 Hz.
Prism
A prism is a tool that uses refraction to spread out the different wavelengths that make up white light
Primary colors
These three colors of light, which can be mixed to produce all possible colors, are called primary colors
Primary pigments
The primary pigments are cyan, yellow, and magenta.
Gamma rays
Gamma rays have frequencies from about 1019 Hz to more than 1024 Hz.
