waves Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the definition of a wave?
A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.
True or False: Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
True
Fill in the blank: The speed of sound in air at room temperature is approximately _____ m/s.
343
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays.
Which type of wave requires a medium to travel?
Mechanical waves
What is the frequency of a wave?
The frequency is the number of complete cycles of a wave that pass a point in one second.
What is the formula for wave speed?
Wave speed = frequency × wavelength
True or False: Light waves can travel through a vacuum.
True
What is the wavelength of visible light approximately measured in?
Nanometers (nm)
What type of wave is light?
Electromagnetic wave
Fill in the blank: The range of visible light is approximately _____ nm to _____ nm.
400, 700
What is refraction?
Refraction is the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another.
What is the unit of frequency?
Hertz (Hz)
Define amplitude in the context of waves.
Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from the rest position.
What phenomenon occurs when waves combine to form a larger wave?
Constructive interference
True or False: The Doppler effect is the change in frequency of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the source of the wave.
True
What is the main difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?
In longitudinal waves, particles move parallel to the wave direction; in transverse waves, particles move perpendicular to the wave direction.
What is the term for the distance between two consecutive crests of a wave?
Wavelength
What type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?
Gamma rays
Fill in the blank: The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately _____ m/s.
3 x 10^8
What is scattering?
Scattering is the redirection of waves when they encounter particles or irregularities in a medium.
What is total internal reflection?
Total internal reflection occurs when a wave hits a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing it to reflect entirely back into the medium.
True or False: Infrared radiation is used in remote controls.
True
What is a sound wave’s pitch determined by?
The frequency of the sound wave.
