Waves Intro

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 the two main types of waves?

Back

Mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

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

What is an electromagnetic wave?

Back

An electromagnetic wave is a wave that can travel through a vacuum and does not require a medium.

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 frequency?

Back

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

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum distance that points on a wave move from their rest position.

Front

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

Back

Waves with longer wavelengths have lower frequencies, and waves with shorter wavelengths have higher frequencies.

Front

What is reflection in terms of waves?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface that it cannot pass through.

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another, changing its speed.