Finals Vocab Flashcards
Spectrum
a range of electromagnetic frequencies; e.g. the light spectrum is the range of frequencies of visible light (related term: electromagnetic spectrum
Frequency
the number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time; the number of times something happens in a period of time
Period
one of the horizontal rows in the periodic table
Wavelength
the distance between one peak and the next on a wave
Crest
the highest point of a wave
Trough
the lowest point of a wave
Medium
The time needed for one complete cycle to pass a given point
Amplitude
height or “strength” of a wave
Longitudinal wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium move parallel to the direction of the wave
Electromagnetic spectrum
the full range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves
Transverse wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave
Compression
occurs when rocks are squeezed by external forces directed toward one another to put stress on the rock, acting to decrease its volume or shorten its dimensions
Rarefraction
Decrease in density in longitudinal way
Diffraction
The bending of light as it passes around, or through an solid object
Refraction
to bend light as it passes through a material (related word: refraction)
