Electromagnetic / Mechanical Waves

Front

What is a medium in the context of waves?

Back

A medium is a substance or material through which a wave travels. For example, sound waves travel through air, water, or solids.

Front

What is an electromagnetic wave?

Back

An electromagnetic wave is a wave made up of vibrating electric and magnetic fields that can travel through a vacuum at the speed of light.

Front

What type of energy can travel through empty space?

Back

Electromagnetic energy can move through empty space.

Front

What is a mechanical wave?

Back

A mechanical wave is a wave that requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.

Front

Define a wave.

Back

A wave is any disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.

Front

What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?

Back

Transverse waves have oscillations that are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel, while longitudinal waves have oscillations that are parallel to the direction of wave travel.

Front

What is wavelength?

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 amplitude?

Back

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

Front

What is frequency?

Back

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

Front

What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

Back

The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 300,000 km/s).