Physics Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is a wave?
A wave is a disturbance that travels through space and matter, transferring energy from one place to another.
What is a longitudinal wave?
A longitudinal wave particles moves parallel to the direction of the wave
Example: Sound waves.
What is a transverse wave?
A transverse wave is a wave in which the particles is perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s travel.
Example: Light waves.
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The height of the wave from the middle (rest position) to the peak or trough
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two corresponding points like peak to peak
What is the frequency of a wave?
The frequency of a wave is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second.
What property of a wave affects the volume of a sound?
The amplitude of the wave affects the volume of a sound.
What property of a wave affects the pitch of a sound?
The frequency of the wave affects the pitch of a sound.
In which state of matter does sound travel fastest?
Sound travels fastest in solids because the particles are closer together, allowing quicker transmission of vibrations.
What is an echo?
when a sound wave reflects off a surface and reaches your ear.
How does echolocation work?
Echolocation works by emitting sound waves and listening for their echoes to determine the location and distance of objects.
What is ‘white’ light?
‘White’ light is a combination of all colors of light in the visible spectrum.
What causes an object to look white?
An object looks white when it reflects all the colours of light equally
What causes an object to look black?
An object looks black when it absorbs all wavelengths of visible light and reflects none.
What are the primary colors of light?
The primary colors of light are red, green, and blue.
What are the secondary colors of light?
The secondary colors of light are cyan, magenta, and yellow, created by mixing primary colors.
Cyan = Green + Blue, Magenta = Red + Blue, Yellow = Red + Green.
Why do we see objects as the colors we do?
We see objects as the colors we do because they reflect certain wavelengths of light and absorb others.
What happens to colors that are not reflected by an object?
Colors that are not reflected by an object are absorbed, making the object appear a different color.
What is the Law of Reflection?
The Law of Reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
What is the normal line?
An imaginary line at 90° to the surface where the light hits.
What causes an object to look black?
An object appears black because it absorbs all the colors of light and reflects none.
What are the primary colors of light?
The primary colors of light are red, green, and blue.
What are the secondary colors of light and how are they made?
The secondary colors of light are cyan, magenta, and yellow, made by combining primary colors:
- Cyan: Green + Blue
- Magenta: Red + Blue
- Yellow: Red + Green
Why do we see objects as the colors we do?
We see objects as their colors because they reflect specific wavelengths of light while absorbing others.
