Science Vocab - WAVES Flashcards
Wave
Any disturbance that transmits energy through matter or empty space.
Medium
a substance through which the wave can travel
Transverse wave
Waves in which the particles vibrate in an up-and-down motion
Longitudinal wave
Waves in which particles vibrate back and forth along the path that the wave moves.
Amplitude
The maximum distance that he particles of a medium vibrate from their rest position.
Wave length
The distance between two crests or compressions next to each other in a wave.
Frequency
The number of waves produced in a given amount of time.
Wave speed
The speed at which a wave travels.
Crest
The highest point of a transverse wave.
Trough
The lowest point between each crest.
Compression
The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles are crowded together
Rarefaction
The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles are spread out.
Refraction
The bending of a wave as the wave passes from one medium to another at an angle.
Diffraction
The bending of waves around a barrier or through an opening.
Interference
The results of two of more waves overlapping.
