Light and Sound Vocabulary

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Light

Back

Form of energy (electromagnetic radiation) our eyes detect. Travels in a straight line and can be absorbed, refracted, reflected, or allowed to pass through a medium. Emitted by hot objects.

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Transparent

Back

Allows all or most light to pass through. Clear glass in a window is transparent.

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Translucent

Back

Allows some light to pass through. Translucent objects may appear fuzzy. A lampshade is a translucent object.

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Opaque

Back

Blocks light from passing through. A cardboard box is an opaque object. It blocks light from passing through.

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Reflect/Reflection

Back

The light traveling through one material bounces off of a different material. Allows us to see objects. We see our reflection in a mirror.

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Refract/Refraction

Back

Light traveling through a transparent material bends, or turns. Light shining through a prism is refracted.

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Lenses

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A curved, transparent object that uses refraction to help us see things. Examples: telescopes, microscopes, eyeglasses.

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Sound

Back

Form of energy that is the result of vibrations. Speed of vibrations produce different sounds. Sound can also cause vibrations.

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Pitch

Back

How high or low a sound is. Pitch changes as the rate of the vibration of the object making the sound changes.

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Vibrate/Vibration

Back

Movement of matter in a back and forth motion. A string on a guitar moves back and forth, or vibrates, quickly.