Sound and Light - 2 answers

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 happens to sound waves when they travel from a liquid to a solid?

Back

Sound waves speed up when they travel from a liquid to a solid because solids are denser than liquids.

Front

What color reflects the most light?

Back

White reflects the most light because it reflects all wavelengths of visible light.

Front

What is refraction of light?

Back

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.

Front

Why does light bend when it enters water from air?

Back

Light bends because water changes the speed of light when it moves from air into water.

Front

What is reflection of light?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing back of light waves when they hit a surface.

Front

What is absorption of light?

Back

Absorption is when light waves are taken in by a material and converted to other forms of energy, such as heat.

Front

What is the effect of a smooth surface on light reflection?

Back

A smooth surface allows for clear reflections because it reflects light waves in a uniform direction.

Front

What happens to light waves when a surface is disturbed?

Back

When a surface is disturbed, light waves reflect in many directions, breaking up the image.

Front

What is the relationship between the speed of light and the medium it travels through?

Back

The speed of light changes depending on the medium; it travels fastest in a vacuum and slower in denser materials.