Science - Waves Vocab Flashcards
Waves
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance.
Medium
A substance through which a wave moves.
Mechanical Wave
A wave, such as a sound wave or seismic wave that transfers kinetic energy through matter.
Transverse Wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance moves at right angles, or perpendicular, to the direction in which the wave travels.
Longitudinal Wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance moves in the same direction that the wave travels.
Wavelength
The distance from one wave peak or crest, to another peak or crest.
Trough
The lowest point, or valley, of a wave.
Crest
The highest point, or peak, of a wave.
Amplitude
The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position.
Frequency
The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, usually one second.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The range of all electromagnetic frequencies, including the following types (from lowest to highest frequency): radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays.
Rarefaction
The part of the wave that is spread out; less dense part.
Compression
The part of the wave that is squeezed together; denser part.
Transmission
The passage of a wave through a medium.
Absorption
The disappearance of a wave into a medium.
