Sound
A form of energy that is created by vibrations of matter. Sound requires matter to travel so without matter there is no sound. Sound travels in waves that move away from their source in all directions
Light
A form of energy that doesn't require matter to travel. Light travels in rays that also move away from their source in all directions
Vibrations
Rapid back and forth movements of matter that create sound waves. Can be detected using your sense of touch, sight, and hearing
Frequency
The number of vibrations in a given amount of time. usually measured in hertz
Hertz
The number of vibrations per second. Ex. 10 hertz = 10 vibrations per second
Pitch
How high or low a particular sound is. How humans perceive frequency
Volume
How loud or soft a sound is. Describes how much energy went into creating a particular sound
Reflection
The bouncing of light or sound from object to another. Hard, flat, rigid objects reflect sound well and when sound is reflected it travels in all directions. When light is reflected it travels in straight lines
Absorption
Occurs when sound or light are not well reflected but are taken in or "soaked up" by an object. Soft, spongy, flexible objects absorb light and sound well
Refraction
The bending of light that occurs when light passes from one type of matter to another. All objects reflect and absorb some sound and light
Prism
A piece of cut and polished glass or plastic that will separate light into its original colors
Rainbow
Formed when tiny droplets in the atmosphere act like prisms to refract and separate light into its original colors