wave behavior

Front

What is absorption of light?

Back

Absorption of light occurs when light waves are taken in by a material, converting the light energy into other forms of energy, such as heat.

Front

What causes light to refract?

Back

Light refracts when it passes from one medium to another, such as from air to water, causing a change in its speed and direction.

Front

What is a wave trough?

Back

A trough is the lowest point of a wave, where the wave's displacement is at its minimum.

Front

Why can we hear around a corner but not see?

Back

Sound waves can diffract around obstacles, allowing us to hear sounds from around corners, while light waves do not diffract as much due to their smaller wavelength.

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of waves as they enter a new medium at an angle, caused by a change in their speed.

Front

What happens to light when it travels through a vacuum?

Back

Light travels at its maximum speed in a vacuum, as there are no particles to slow it down.

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles or through openings, which can cause sound to spread out.

Front

What is the relationship between wave speed and medium?

Back

The speed of a wave changes when it enters a different medium due to differences in density and elasticity.

Front

What is the principle of superposition?

Back

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

Front

What is the difference between reflection and refraction?

Back

Reflection is when a wave bounces off a surface, while refraction is when a wave changes direction as it passes into a different medium.