Sound and Light Waves

Front

What is a wave?

Back

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.

Front

What are sound waves?

Back

Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel.

Front

What are light waves?

Back

Light waves are electromagnetic waves that do not require a medium to travel.

Front

What is the amplitude of a wave?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position, indicating the wave's energy.

Front

What is frequency in relation to waves?

Back

Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Front

What is the wavelength of a wave?

Back

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is the difference between mechanical and electromagnetic waves?

Back

Mechanical waves require a medium to travel (e.g., sound waves), while electromagnetic waves do not (e.g., light waves).

Front

What happens to sound waves as they travel through different mediums?

Back

Sound waves travel faster in solids than in liquids, and faster in liquids than in gases due to the density and elasticity of the medium.

Front

What is pitch in sound?

Back

Pitch is the perceived frequency of a sound; higher frequencies correspond to higher pitches.

Front

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

Back

Frequency and wavelength are inversely related; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa.