Name_______________________________Date__________Test Date________________
sound
How do
they
travel?
What rate
do they
travel?
How do
they
behave
when
traveling
through
various
materials?
light
heat
Sound travels in waves as
vibrations. The waves
travel in all directions.
Light waves travels in
straight lines. We see it as
white light unless it is
refracted as a rainbow into
its different wavelengths
and frequencies.
Heat travels through
conduction,
convection, or
radiation, other ways
are fossil fuels, solar
energy, and friction
Sound travels fastest
through solids since the
particles of solids are
packed tightly together.
Next is liquids. Sound
travels slowest through
gases. Sound doesn’t
travel through empty
space.
Sound wave vibrations
make the particles of
matter move. Solids that
vibrate send out
compressions.
Light travels fastest
through empty space and
gas. Light slows down
when it hits various
materials like solids or
liquids.
The transfer of heat
energy makes the
particles of matter
vibrate more quickly.
When light travels through
empty space and air it
travels very quickly. When
light hits a solid, it slows
down and it can be
absorbed and turned into
heat energy. When light
hits a liquid it can be
refracted or bent. When
light hits a shiny surface
(solid or liquid) it will
reflect or bounce.
Heat traveling
through matter that is
touching is
conduction, hot
matter particles move
faster and then as
they touch cold
matter, its particles
start to move faster.
Heat traveling
through convection
transfers thermal
energy through air
and water, like
heating matter in a
microwave. Heat
energy that is sent out
in waves and moves
through matter and
empty space is
radiation (hot car on a
hot day)