Section 1 Properties of Waves Flashcards
a disturbance that moves through a medium away from the source of the sound
sound waves
waves with the shortest wavelength and highest frequencies and energies of all EM radiation
gamma waves
comparable to the size of molecules
UV wave
waves with the longest wavelength the lowest frequencies and lowest energy of all types of EM radiation
radio waves
a very small portion of the EM spectrum including all the wavelengths of light the average unaided human eye can detect
visible light
the lowest point of a transverse wave
trough
an interval in time after which the motion of a particle on the medium starts to repeat
period
the horizontal distance after which the wave repeats itself in space
wavelength
vertical distance from the equilibrium to the crest or the equilibrium to the trough of a transverse wave
amplitude
the highest point of a transverse wave
crest
the centerpoint of a wave where no movement is occurring
equilibrium position
the number of oscillations the wave makes in a given amount of time, typically a second
frequency
a wave where the oscillation is parallel to the direction the wave is traveling
longitudinal wave
a wave where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling
transverse wave
a position or state to which an oscillating object eventually returns after a disturbance is gone
equilibrium
oscillation
a repetitive motion that usually occurs at about a center point
a repeating and periodic disturbance (oscillation) that travels from one location to another, transferring energy
wave
combines an oscillating electric field and an oscillating magnetic field; can exist in a vacuum; do not require a medium
electromagnetic wave
a space in which there is no matter
vacuum
waves that can travel through only matter and require a medium to transport their energy
mechanical waves
when particles of matter are pushed closer together
compression
when particles of matter are pulled away from each other
expansion
how high or low sound is; depends on the frequency of sound waves
pitch
the energy of a soundwave; the greater the energy of a soundwave, the greater its amplitude, and therefore the louder the sound
loudness
