Wave Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is a wave?
Repeating disturbance that transfers energy
Waves can be classified into longitudinal and transverse types.
Define longitudinal wave.
A wave that moves back and forth
Longitudinal waves are characterized by compressions and rarefactions.
Define transverse wave.
A wave that moves up and down
Transverse waves have peaks and troughs.
What part of the electromagnetic spectrum does light belong to?
Light
Light is a type of electromagnetic wave.
What is sound?
Longitudinal mechanical wave produced by vibration
Sound waves require a medium to travel.
What is a crest in a wave?
The highest point of a wave
It is the opposite of a trough.
What is a trough in a wave?
The lowest point of a wave
Troughs represent the minimum displacement of the wave.
What does amplitude measure in a wave?
The energy of a wave
In compressional waves, amplitude depends on the closeness of the compressions.
Define frequency in the context of waves.
The number of waves that pass through a point
Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).
What is reflection in terms of light?
Light travels through a medium and rebounds off a different medium
Reflection occurs at the boundary between two different media.
What occurs during refraction?
Light passes from one transparent medium to another
Refraction occurs due to a change in the speed of light.
Fill in the blank: Sound travels fastest in _______.
Solid
Sound requires a medium, and its speed varies with the medium’s density.
Fill in the blank: Electromagnetic waves require _______ or a medium.
Vacuum
Unlike mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.
What are the characteristics of images formed in mirrors?
- Behind the mirror
- Equal distance
- Same size
- Virtual
- Horizontally inverted
These characteristics apply to plane mirrors.
What are the two laws of reflection?
- Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection
- Incident and reflected rays are on the same plane
These laws govern how light behaves when it encounters reflective surfaces.
What causes refraction?
Light changes direction as it passes through different media
The speed of light varies depending on the medium.
Define hyperopia.
Difficulty seeing close objects
Also known as farsightedness.
Define myopia.
Difficulty seeing far objects
Also known as nearsightedness.
