Waves

Question 1

medium

Answer 1

is any substance that a wave moves through

Question 2

mechanical waves

Answer 2

waves that transfer energy through matter

Question 3

transverse wave

Answer 3

the direction in which the wave travels is perpendicular, or at right angles, to the direction of the disturbance

Question 4

longitudinal wave

Answer 4

the wave travels in the same direction as the disturbance

Question 5

crest

Answer 5

the highest point, or peak, of a wave

Question 6

trough

Answer 6

is the lowest point, or valley, of a wave

Question 7

amplitude

Answer 7

indicates how much energy a wave is carrying

Question 8

wavelength

Answer 8

distance from crest to the next crest, or trough to the next trough

Question 9

frequency

Answer 9

the number of waves passing a fixed point in a certain amount of time

Question 10

reflection

Answer 10

the bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier

Question 11

refraction

Answer 11

is the bending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle other than 90 degrees

Question 12

diffraction

Answer 12

is the spreading out of waves through an opening or around the edge of an obstacle

Question 13

interference

Answer 13

is the meeting and combining of waves

Question 14

electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 14

the range of all EM frequencies

Question 15

radio waves

Answer 15

the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves of the lowest frequencies

Question 16

microwaves

Answer 16

part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with a higher frequencies than radio waves but lower frequencies than infrared waves

Question 17

visible light

Answer 17

is the part of the EM spectrum that human eyes can see

Question 18

infrared light

Answer 18

part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with frequencies between those of microwaves and visible light

Question 19

x-rays

Answer 19

an electromagnetic wave of high energy and very short wavelength

Question 20

wave

Answer 20

is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another

Question 21

gamma rays

Answer 21

part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with the highest frequencies

Question 22

transmission

Answer 22

is the passage of an EM wave through a medium

Question 23

absorption

Answer 23

is the disappearance of an EM wave into the medium

Question 24

scattering

Answer 24

is the spreading out of light rays in all directions

Question 25

polarization

Answer 25

is a quality of light in which all of its waves vibrate in the same direction

Question 26

prism

Answer 26

is a tool that uses refraction to spread out the different wavelengths that make up white light

Question 27

primary colors

Answer 27

three colors of light (red, green, and blue) that can be mixed to produce all possible colors

Question 28

primary pigments

Answer 28

three color of substances (cyan, yellow, and magenta) that can be mixed to produce any possible colors

Question 29

radiation

Answer 29

energy that travels across distances in the form of electromagnetic waves