What is a transverse wave?
Energy transfer and right angles (perpendicular) to the motion of the wave.
Example: electromagnetic waves.
What is a longitudinal wave?
Energy transfer is parallel to the motion of the wave.
Example: sound waves.
What do longitudinal waves need to travel through?
Particles.
What is the law of reflection?
Angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
What is refraction?
Change in direction of light at the boundary between two different materials of different densities.
What can light waves do?
They can be reflected, refracted, or diffracted.
What is dispersion?
Spreading out of waves.
What is frequency?
The number of waves passing in one second. Unit is hertz (Hz).
What is amplitude?
Height of a wave from the mid-point to the crest/trough.
What is a lens?
A transparent tool that changes the direction of light.
What is a vacuum?
A volume that contains no matter.
What is a spectrum?
A series of similar waves arranged in order of wavelength or frequency.
What is the retina?
The light sensitive area on the back of the eye. Light must be focussed on the retina in order to see clearly.
What causes sound waves?
Vibrations, which need particles to transfer sound energy.
What can sound waves do?
They can be reflected (echo), refracted, or diffracted.
What is ultrasound?
Above human hearing range (above 20,000 Hz).
