Vocab

Question 1

Wave

Answer 1

a disturbance caused by a vibration; Waves travel away from the source that makes them.

Question 2

Medium

Answer 2

A substance, such as agar, in which bacteria or other microorganisms are grown for scientific purposes. A substance that makes possible the transfer of energy from one location to another, especially through waves.

Question 3

Mechanical wave

Answer 3

a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium. While waves can move over long distances, the movement of the medium of transmission—the material—is limited

Question 4

Transverse wave

Answer 4

a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave

Question 5

Longitudinal wave

Answer 5

Waves in which the motion of the individual particles of the medium is in a direction that is parallel to the direction of energy transport (in a horizontal motion) are called longitudinal waves.

Question 6

Crest

Answer 6

The highest point in a wave

Question 7

Trough

Answer 7

The lowest point in a wave

Question 8

Amplitude

Answer 8

Height or “ strength” in a wave

Question 9

Wave length

Answer 9

the distance between one peak and the next on a wave

Question 10

the number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time; the number of times something happens in a period of time

Answer 10

Frequency

Question 11

Reflection

Answer 11

to strike a surface and bounce back in the opposite direction

Question 12

to bend light as it passes through a material

Answer 12

Refraction

Question 13

Diffraction

Answer 13

a process by which light waves break up into dark and light bands or into the colors of the spectrum. Light passing through a narrow opening in the blinds, causing bright and dark shadows and patterns to fall across the floor is an example of defraction

Question 14

the process in which two or more light, sound, or electromagnetic waves of the same frequency combine to reinforce or cancel each other, the amplitude of the resulting wave being equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the combining waves.

Answer 14

Interference

Question 15

Electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 15

the full range of frequencies of electromagnetic

Question 16

Radiation

Answer 16

a process by which energetic electromagnetic waves move from one place to another

Question 17

one of the waves that are propagated by simultaneous periodic variations of electric and magnetic field intensity and that include radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays

Answer 17

Electromagnetic wave

Question 18

Radio waves

Answer 18

an electromagnetic wave of a frequency between about 104 and 1011 or 1012 Hz, as used for long-distance communication

Question 19

An electromagnetic wave with a wavelength in the range 0.001–0.3 m, shorter than that of a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared radiation. Microwaves are used in radar, in communications, and for heating in microwave ovens and in various industrial processes.

Answer 19

Microwaves

Question 20

is one type of light that is invisible to us. Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light, microwaves and radio waves are other types of invisible light. All of these rays and waves are the same type of electromagnetic energy

Answer 20

Infrared lights

Question 21

Ultraviolet light

Answer 21

a type of electromagnetic radiation that has a higher frequency than violet light: Ultrviolet light is invisible to humans.

Question 22

X-rays

Answer 22

an electromagnetic wave of high energy and very short wavelength, which is able to pass through many materials opaque to light.

Question 23

Gamma rays

Answer 23

penetrating electromagnetic radiation of a kind arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei.

Question 24

Transmission

Answer 24

to pass a disease; send energy from one place to another; to communicate by sending a message

Question 25

Absorption

Answer 25

to take in matter or energy