waves, light, and optics

Question 1

period T

Answer 1

time for 1 wave to pass by

Question 2

frequency, f

Answer 2

waves per seconds

Question 3

high and low of wave

Answer 3

trough and crest

Question 4

amplitude

Answer 4

distance above or below the equilibrium line

Question 5

simple harmonic motion

Answer 5

any periodic motion that is the result of restoring force that is proportional to the displacement (back and forth motion over same path)

Question 6

transverse wave

Answer 6

particles vibrate perpendicularly to direction of wave motion (like a “wave” at a stadium) (everything but sound pretty much)

Question 7

longitudinal wave

Answer 7

particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion (sound)

Question 8

speed of mechanical wave

Answer 8

constant for any given medium - changes in different mediums - frequency and wavelength of 2 sounds can be different but their speed in the same medium will be same

Question 9

how do waves transfer energy?

Answer 9

transfer motion of matter rather than matter itself - depends on wave’s amplitude - if A doubles, energy quadruples

Question 10

constructive interference

Answer 10

interference in which individual displacements on the same side of the equilibrium position are added together to forme the resultant wave

Question 11

destructive interference

Answer 11

individual displacements on opposite side of equilibrium, cancels wave

Question 12

range of human hearing

Answer 12

20 Hz - 20,000 Hz

Question 13

at a free boundary

Answer 13

reflected pulses are identical to incident pulse

Question 14

at fixed boundary

Answer 14

waves are reflected but inverted

Question 15

Doppler effect

Answer 15

frequency shift that is the result of relative motion between the source of the waves and the observer

Question 16

beats

Answer 16

pulsation in loudness when two tones of nearly the same frequency are sounded simultaneously

Question 17

light

Answer 17

electromagnetic radiation, compound of several toms of radiation

Question 18

spectrum progression

Answer 18

low f and long wavelength at radio end, high f and short wavelength at gamma end

Question 19

incident and reflected angles?

Answer 19

equal

Question 20

diffuse reflection

Answer 20

light reflected from a rough, textured surface such as a road surface is reflected in many differ directions

Question 21

specular reflection

Answer 21

light reflected from a shiny, smooth surface is reflected in only one direction

Question 22

refraction

Answer 22

bending of light as it travels at an angle from one medium to another because it speeds up or slows down

Question 23

green + red

Answer 23

yellow

Question 24

red + blue

Answer 24

magenta

Question 25

green + blue

Answer 25

cyan

Question 26

complementary colors

Answer 26

add up to white

Question 27

cyan + red

Answer 27

white

Question 28

yellow + red

Answer 28

white

Question 29

magenta + green

Answer 29

white

Question 30

flat mirrors

Answer 30

rays appear to come from behind the mirror’s surface (object distance = image distance), virtual image

Question 31

virtual image

Answer 31

image formed by light rays that only appear to intersect