Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves Flashcard

Front

What is the main difference between mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves?

Back

Mechanical waves can only travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, while electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.

Front

What type of waves can cause sunburn and have shorter wavelengths than infrared?

Back

Ultraviolet Rays.

Front

What do sound waves require to travel?

Back

They require a medium.

Front

What common characteristic do radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays share?

Back

They are all electromagnetic waves.

Front

How does the energy of a wave relate to its wavelength?

Back

A wave with a shorter wavelength has more energy than one with a longer wavelength.

Front

What is a mechanical wave?

Back

A wave that requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel.

Front

What is an electromagnetic wave?

Back

A wave that can travel through a vacuum and does not require a medium.

Front

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

Back

Approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (the speed of light).

Front

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength in electromagnetic waves?

Back

Higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths.

Front

What are the two main types of mechanical waves?

Back

Transverse waves and longitudinal waves.