EM vs. Mechanical waves

Front

What are electromagnetic waves?

Back

Waves that do not require a medium to travel and can move through a vacuum, such as light waves.

Front

What are mechanical waves?

Back

Waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through, such as sound waves.

Front

True or False: Electromagnetic waves can travel through space.

Back

True

Front

True or False: Mechanical waves can travel through a vacuum.

Back

False

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

The distance from one point to the next corresponding point on a wave.

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

The distance from the center line (or the still position) of a wave to the top of a crest or to the bottom of a trough.

Front

What type of wave is sound?

Back

Mechanical wave.

Front

What type of wave is light?

Back

Electromagnetic wave.

Front

What is the speed of sound in air compared to the speed of light?

Back

Sound travels slower than light.

Front

What happens to the speed of sound in different mediums?

Back

Sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases.