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Science > Waves - Glossary > Flashcards

Waves - Glossary Flashcards

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1
Q

amplitude

A

the maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position

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2
Q

frequency

A

the number of waves passing a point each second

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3
Q

longitudinal waves

A

waves that have vibrations along or parallel to their direction of travel e.g. sound waves

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4
Q

medium

A

substance through which waves can travel

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5
Q

transverse waves

A

disturbance caused by the wave is perpendicular to the wave’s direction, up and down as wave travels from left to right e.g. light wave

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6
Q

wavelength

A

distance covered by a full cycle of the wave, usually measured from peak to peak, or trough to trough

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7
Q

absorb

A

light waves are captured by an object, not reflected

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8
Q

angle

A

number of degrees

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9
Q

angle of incidence

A

angle between the incident ray and the normal

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10
Q

angle of reflection

A

angle between the reflected ray and the normal

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11
Q

converge

A

come together

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12
Q

convex

A

curving out or bulging outward

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13
Q

critical angle

A

angle of incidence that gives an angle of refraction of 90°

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14
Q

cyan

A

Light blue/turquoise colour

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15
Q

dispersion

A

splitting up of white light into the colours of the spectrum

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16
Q

diverge

A

spread out

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17
Q

electromagnetic wave

A

a wave that is both electric and magnetic in nature and that can travel through a vacuum, e.g., light waves, radio waves, microwaves

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18
Q

fibre optic

A

a glass or plastic “optical” fibre that carries light along its length

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19
Q

filter

A

an object that blocks some colours and lets others through

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20
Q

focal point

A

the point on the centreline of a lens or mirror at which reflected or refracted rays converge

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21
Q

focus

A

bringing together light to make a clear image; the region that can be seen clearly and where all objects appear to have sharp outlines

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22
Q

incident ray

A

light ray that hits a surface

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23
Q

inverted

A

upside down

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24
Q

kaleidoscope

A

the name given to a toy that uses several mirrors all facing inwards. The kaleidoscope produces many images of any object placed inside and this may give many new patterns

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25
Q

laser

A

concentrated beam of mono-coloured light

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26
Q

lens

A

(of eye) part of the eye that focuses light onto the retina; transparent glass or plastic that refracts light

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27
Q

light source

A

object able to generate its own light (luminous)

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28
Q

luminous

A

object that gives off light

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29
Q

magenta

A

pinky purple colour formed by mixing red and blue light; a secondary colour

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30
Q

magnify

A

cause objects to appear larger than they are

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31
Q

microscope

A

optical instrument for viewing small objects

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32
Q

mirror

A

polished or smooth surface that forms images by reflection

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33
Q

normal

A

imaginary line at right angles to where a light ray strikes a surface

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34
Q

opaque

A

a material that does not allow visible light to pass through it

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35
Q

periscope

A

an instrument for observation using mirrors (or prisms) that’s lets you see over walls or around corners

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36
Q

pinhole camera

A

very simple camera with no lens and a single very small hole

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37
Q

plane

A

mirror with a flat surface

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38
Q

primary (light) colour

A

one of three colours (red, blue and green) that combine to give all the other colours seen by the human eye

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39
Q

prism

A

triangular block of glass

40
Q

ray diagram

A

diagram that shows which way light rays travel

41
Q

real image

A

occurs when light rays actually pass through the point where the image is

42
Q

reflect

A

bounce off a surface

43
Q

reflected ray

A

light ray that bounces off the surface of a mirror or off water

44
Q

refract

A

bend light as it passes through a transparent substance

45
Q

refraction

A

change in the direction of a light ray as it enters a new medium

46
Q

secondary (light) colour

A

light colours that can be made by mixing together primary colours; yellow, cyan and magenta

47
Q

shadow

A

area of darkness where light is blocked by an object

48
Q

spectrum

A

all the colours of the rainbow that make up sunlight (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)

49
Q

telescope (optical)

A

instrument designed for the observation of remote objects; uses mirrors and lenses

50
Q

total internal reflection

A

occurs when light is completely trapped within a medium such as glass

51
Q

translucent

A

a material that allow lights to pass through them but the light is scattered transmission

52
Q

transparent

A

a material that allows visible light to pass through it without scattering

53
Q

transmission

A

passing through. Heat, sound and light can be transmitted through some objects.

54
Q

upright

A

right way up (opposite of inverted)

55
Q

virtual image

A

occurs when light rays don’t pass through the point where the image is located

56
Q

white light

A

formed from a mixture of different-coloured lights

57
Q

aqueous humour

A

watery substance that is between the lens and the cornea

58
Q

blind spot

A

point of the retina where the optic nerve leads into the brain that has no light-sensitive cells

59
Q

camera

A

a device that takes photos of images

60
Q

concave

A

curved inwards

61
Q

cones

A

one kind of light-sensitive cell in the retina. Cones give you colour vision in bright light.

62
Q

conjunctiva

A

clear membrane that covers the sclera (white part of the eye) and lines the inside of the eyelids

63
Q

cornea

A

outer transparent surface of the eye

64
Q

fovea

A

area of retina responsible for our central, sharpest vision

65
Q

hypermetropia

A

far-sightedness or long-sightedness

66
Q

iris

A

coloured muscular ring that controls the size of the pupil in a human eye

67
Q

lens

A

a clear, flexible structure that makes an image on the eye’s retina

68
Q

long sighted

A

a disorder of the eye which means that the muscles cannot pull the lens far enough for a person to be able to see short distances clearly.

69
Q

myopia

A

near sighted

70
Q

optic nerve

A

the bundle of nerve fibres that carry information from the retina to the brain.

71
Q

pupil

A

the hole in the iris that allows light to enter the eyeball

72
Q

retina

A

light sensitive surface at the back of the eye that converts light energy into electrical impulses

73
Q

rods

A

one kind of light-sensitive cell in the retina. Rods respond in dim light.

74
Q

sclera

A

the thick, tough, white outer covering of the eyeball.

75
Q

short sighted

A

defect of eye where person sees nearby objects clearly but distant objects appear blurred; images focus in front of the retina

76
Q

tapetum

A

the colourful, shiny material located behind the retina. Found in animals with good night vision, the tapetum reflects light back through the retina.

77
Q

vitreous humour

A

the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball

78
Q

audible range

A

the range at which we can hear sound

79
Q

decibel

A

the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound

80
Q

echo

A

a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound

81
Q

insulation

A

(sound) Materials used in buildings etc. To reduce the amount of sound transfer to and from the building

82
Q

loudness

A

the greater the amplitude of a wave then the louder it is

83
Q

pitch

A

same as frequency

84
Q

sound wave

A

compressions and expansions of air created by a vibrating object

85
Q

vacuum

A

no sound can be heard here because there are no air particles

86
Q

vibration

A

movement of particles back and forth across a central position

87
Q

auditory nerve

A

carries information between the cochlea and the brain

88
Q

cochlea

A

coiled tube in the inner ear that converts sound energy into electrical impulses

89
Q

ear drum

A

membrane divides the external ear from the middle ear.

90
Q

Eustachian tube

A

a canal that links the middle ear with the back of the nose.

91
Q

inner ear

A

oval window, cochlea and semi-circular canals

92
Q

middle ear

A

ear drum, cavity and little bones

93
Q

ossicles

A

tiny bones in the ear (hammer, anvil, stirrup)

94
Q

outer ear

A

pinna and ear canal

95
Q

pinna

A

ear flap (outer ear) directs sound into the inner ear

96
Q

semi-circular canals

A

maintains balance when body is moving

Science (9 decks)

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