Unit4 Lession1 Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are waves?
Waves are oscillations that carry energy. Oscillation can be up-and-down or back-and-forth motion.
What is a wave in physical science?
In physical science, a wave is energy carried from place to place.
What are the types of waves?
Waves can move through matter or vacuums.
What are mechanical waves?
Waves that move through matter are called mechanical waves.
What are electromagnetic waves?
Waves that move through vacuums are called electromagnetic waves.
Examples include light waves, x-rays, radio waves.
What does vacuum mean?
Space that has no matter in it. Think of a vacuum cleaner sucking every bit of matter out of a space.
What are common features of waves?
Waves share common features: repeating quantities, interact with materials as they are transmitted, absorbed, or reflected, transfer energy over long distances without long-distance movement of matter, and can be used to encode information.
What are mechanical waves?
Mechanical waves travel through some sort of matter, known as the medium.
What states of matter can mechanical waves travel through?
Mechanical waves might travel through any state of matter: solid, liquid, gas.
What is an example of a mechanical wave?
Sound is an example of a mechanical wave that we experience every day.
How do sound waves start?
Sound waves start with vibration. The molecules around the source of the vibration are agitated.
How is energy transferred in sound waves?
The energy of the wave is transferred from molecule to molecule within the medium through which it is traveling.
Through what can sound travel?
Usually, we hear a sound that has traveled through the air, but sound can also travel through other types of matter such as liquids or solids.
What are electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves transmit energy and travel through a vacuum. They do NOT need a medium.
How are electromagnetic waves classified?
Electromagnetic waves are classified according to their frequency.
What do visible light waves do?
Visible light waves give us the ability to see.
What are examples of electromagnetic waves?
Examples include light, microwaves, x-rays.
What is a longitudinal wave?
A longitudinal wave oscillates in the same direction as it moves. Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
What is a transverse wave?
A transverse wave oscillates perpendicular to the direction of motion. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.
