Physical Science Chapter 7 Flashcards
a back and forth motion that transmits energy
wave
a substance through which a wave transfers its energy
medium (media is plural)
a portion of a wave that only has a crest or only a trough
wave pulse
a wave in which particles of the transmitting medium oscillate at right angles to the direction of wave travel
transverse wave
a series of waves
wave train
high point on a wave
crest
low point on a wave
trough
a wave in which particles of the transmitting medium oscillate in the direction of wave motion
longitudinal wave
the pulse of a longitudinal wave in which particles of the transmitting medium are squeezed together
compression pulse
the pulse of a longitudinal wave in which particles of the transmitting medium are spread out
rarefaction pulse
a spring that is stretched or compressed will produce a restorative force that resists the stretching or compression
Hooke’s law
an oscillation caused by a restorative force that is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium
simple harmonic motion
the length of a single wave
wavelength
the maximum distance that particles are displaced by a wave
amplitude
the number of waves that pass a given point per unit time
frequency
the time needed for one cycle of a repeating process like the swing of a pendulum or the passing of a wave
period
the rate at which a wave travels through a medium
speed
a change in the course of a wave as a result of a collision with an object or boundary
reflection
waves that strike the boundary
incident waves
waves that “bounce” off the boundary
reflected waves
states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
law of reflection
the bending of a path of a wave as a result of the change in wave speed
refraction
the spreading out of a wave after it passes around an obstacle or through a narrow gap
diffraction
the mutual reinforcement or cancellation that occurs when two or more waves meet
interference
when two crests or two troughs meet
constructive interference
when a crest meets a trough
destructive interference
when waves completely cancel each other out
complete destructive interference