Waves, Sound, and Light
Chapter 1
Bell Work
1. Name two ways you can
apply force to a soccer ball.
2. Name two ways the force you
apply can change the motion
of the soccer ball.
W, S, L - 1.1 Vocab
Wave – a disturbance that
transfers energy from one
place to another
Medium – any substance that a
wave moves through
Mechanical wave – waves that
transfer energy through matter
1.1 Vocab Cont.
Transverse wave – a wave that
travels in a perpendicular
direction to its disturbance
Longitudinal wave – a wave
travels in the same direction as its
disturbance
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1. What is a mechanical wave?
2. What is a transverse wave?
3. What is a longitudinal wave?
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Fill in the chart like a Venn Diagram
Longitudinal
Wave
Both
Transverse Wave
1.2 Vocab
Crest – the highest point,
or peak, of a wave
Trough – the lowest point,
or valley, of a wave
1.2 Vocab Continued
Amplitude – the distance a
medium moves above or below its
trough or crest
Wavelength – the distance from
one crest or trough to the next
Frequency – the number of waves
passing a fixed point in a certain
amount of time
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1. Describe how forces start waves.
2. Does water moving through a hose
qualify as a wave? Explain why or
why not.
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Make a simple diagram
of a wave – label
crest, trough,
amplitude, and
wavelength.
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Get out a pencil and put
everything else away.
Then, grab a sheet from
Justis and answer the
true/false questions on the
front.
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How could you measure each of
these things? What problems
might you encounter in doing
so?
1. Width of a door opening
2. Volume of liquid
3. Length of time
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1. What is a medium?
2. Give 3 examples of mediums.
Wave Lab
Purpose: How can a transverse wave and a
longitudinal wave be demonstrated?
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1. Explain how to make a wave
with a rope.
2. Explain how to make a wave
with a slinky.
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1. When you look in a mirror
what are you seeing?
2. What are some examples
of waves?
Notes 1.3
Reflection – the bouncing back
of a wave after it strikes a
barrier
Reflection
Any type of wave can be reflected.
We will look at the reflection of Sound,
Water and Light Waves.
Reflection best occurs from flat, hard
surfaces.
After reflection, a wave has the same
speed, frequency and wavelength,
it is only the direction of the wave that has
changed.
Refraction – the bending of a
wave as it enters a new
medium at an angle other than
90 degrees
Refraction
• Any type of wave can be refracted, which means a
change of direction.
We will look at the refraction of
Water Waves, Light Waves and Waves from
Earthquakes.
• Refraction can occur when the speed of a wave
changes,
as it moves from one environment to another.
After refraction, the wave has the same frequency
but a different speed, wavelength and direction.
• When a wave enters a new environment,
its change in speed will also change its wavelength
(see the definition of wavelength).
Diffraction – the spreading out
of waves through an opening
or around the edge of an
obstacle
Diffraction
• Any type of wave can be diffracted.
A diffracted wave will "spread out".
Diffraction occurs when the wavelength of a
wave
is of a similar size to an obstacle or a gap in a
barrier.
• After diffraction,
a wave will have the same speed, frequency
and wavelength.
Interference –
the meeting
and combining
of waves
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1. What is reflection?
2. Give an example of reflection.
3. What is refraction?
4. Give an example of refraction.
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1. What is diffraction?
2. Give an example of diffraction.
3. What is interference?
4. Give an example of interference.
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1. What is an echo an example of?
2. What do all waves travel through?
3. What is the amplitude measuring?
Bell Work
Choose a type of wave that we made during
the wave lab in class. Draw a small picture
of the wave that was made and describe
what type of wave it was and how the wave
was made. Show in the picture the
direction of disturbance and direction of
the wave. Be sure to include how you know
whether it is a transverse or a longitudinal
wave.