Waves Light and Sound
PHYS 101 · Module 4
This module introduces waves as traveling disturbances that carry energy. Students explore sound, hearing, light, the electromagnetic spectrum, color, reflection, and refraction.
Lessons in this module
What is a wave?
A wave is a disturbance that carries energy without transporting matter over the same distance. This lesson introduces amplitude, wavelength, frequency, speed, and wave types.
Sound and hearing
Sound is a longitudinal pressure wave traveling through matter. This lesson explains pitch, loudness, wave speed, echoes, resonance, and how hearing works.
Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
Light is part of a broad family of electromagnetic waves. This lesson introduces visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Color and basic optics
Color comes from the wavelengths of light that objects emit, reflect, transmit, or absorb. This lesson introduces reflection, refraction, lenses, prisms, and how eyes see color.
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