Sound and Light Energy Study Guide

  • What does a wave carry? Waves carry energy
  • What is sound? Sound is caused by vibrations
  • In what direction do the particles of transverse waves move?Particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave
  • In what direction do the particles of longitudinal waves move?Particles move parallel to the direction of the wave
  • Which type of wave requires a medium through which to propagate?Mechanical waves which include ALL longitudinal (like sound) and a couple transverse waves (like water) require a medium through which to travel
  • Describe the following:
  • Reflection:bouncing of waves
  • Refraction:bending of waves as they move from one medium to another (moving through he barrier makes the waves change speed)
  • Diffraction:waves moving around a barrier
  • What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength? As one increases the other decreases
  • What type of wave does sound travel in?longitudinal Light? Transverse (electromagnetic)
  • What does increased amplitude in a sound wave mean? the loudness increases
  • What causes a high pitch? An increase in frequency
  • What is the Doppler Effect? The apparent change in frequency to the observer as the source moves toward the observer
  • What causes an echo? Bouncing of sound waves
  • Name the types of electromagnetic radiation in order from the LEAST amount of energy to the MOST amount of energy: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultra violet, x-ray, gamma
  • Which color in the visible light has the MOST amount of energy? Violet Least? red
  • Describe each of the following and give an example of each:
  • Transparent:allows light to pass through clearly
  • Translucent:some light passes through, some is scattered
  • Opaque:light is absorbed, does not pass through
  • Describe how we are able to see colors: we see the color of light that is reflected to transmitted,
  • What causes light waves to refract? The changing of the speed of a wave as it passes through one medium into another, this causes it to bend
  • How is white light created? When all colors of LIGHT are combined
  • The different colors of light are caused by the fact that each light has its own wavelength/frequency
  • At ______degrees, light is reflected. Light is reflected at the same angle as it hits the surface
  • Describe the difference between a concave mirror and a convex mirror and how light is reflected off of each.

Concave mirror causes light waves to>

Convex mirrors cause light waves to>

  • Describe the difference between a concave lens and a convex lens and how light passes through. (maybe sketch a picture to help you)

Concave lenses cause light wave to spread out (diverge)

Convex lenses cause light waves to converge (come together)

  • The human eye is what type of lens? Convex lens
  • Know how to apply the following formulas:

Unit: meters/sec

Unit: Hz

Unit: meters

  • Be able to label all parts of a transverse wave (line of rest, crest, trough, amplitude, wavelength) and longitudinal wave (amplitude, compression, rarefaction, wavelength).
  • Compare the speed of sound as it passes through solids, liquids and gases. Sound travels fastest through solids, then next fastest through liquids, slowest through gasses
  • How does temperature affect the speed of sound through air? (Compare warmer air to colder air)

Travels faster in warm air and slower in cold air

  • Describe the relationship between thunder and lightning and their speeds.

You hear the thunder after the lightning because light travels much faster than sound.

  • Can you hear sound in space?no, because sound requires a medium through which to travel, and there is no medium in space