Waves, Sound, and Light Flashcards
7 cards from real BMST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Waves, Sound, and Light flashcards as text
Which of the following is NOT part of the electromagnetic spectrum?
Answer: Sound waves
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium to travel and are not electromagnetic; X-rays, ultraviolet, and radio waves are all electromagnetic.
Which color of visible light has the longest wavelength?
Answer: Red
Red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum (approximately 620–750 nm), while violet has the shortest.
What is the Doppler effect?
Answer: The change in observed frequency due to relative motion between source and observer
The Doppler effect describes how the observed frequency of a wave changes when the source and observer move relative to each other, like a siren sounding higher as it approaches.
What does the amplitude of a wave represent?
Answer: The maximum displacement from the rest position
Amplitude is the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position, and it is directly related to the energy the wave carries.
Through which medium does sound travel fastest?
Answer: Steel
Sound travels fastest through solids like steel because tightly packed particles transmit vibrations more quickly than liquids or gases.
What is diffraction?
Answer: The bending of waves around the edges of an obstacle or through an opening
Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle, and it occurs with all types of waves.
Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the highest frequency?
Answer: Gamma rays
Gamma rays have the highest frequency and shortest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum, making them the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation.