Vocab #7

Question 1

Standing Wave

Answer 1

Wave in which parts of the wave remain stationary and the wave appears not to be traveling. The results of interference between the incident (original) wave and a reflected wave.

Question 2

Longitudinal Wave

Answer 2

A wave in which the vibration is in the same direction as that in which the wave is traveling, rather than at right angles to it.

Question 3

Crest

Answer 3

One of the places in a wave where the wave is the highest or the disturbance is great.

Question 4

Period

Answer 4

The time required for a pendulum to make one to-and-fro swing. In general, the time required for a pendulum to complete a single cycle.

Question 5

Constructive Interference

Answer 5

Addition of two or more waves when wave crests overlap to produce a resulting wave of increased amplitude.

Question 6

Doppler Effect

Answer 6

The change in frequency of a wave due to the motion of the source or the receiver.

Question 7

Simple Harmonic Motion

Answer 7

Periodic motion in which acceleration is proportional to the distance from an equilibrium position and is directed toward that equilibrium position.

Question 8

Frequency

Answer 8

The number of events (cycles, vibrations, osciliations, any repeated event) per time.

Question 9

Trough

Answer 9

One of the places in a wave is lowest, or the disturbance is greatest, in the opposite direction from a crest.

Question 10

Vibration

Answer 10

An oscillation, or repeating back-and-forth motion, about an equilibrium position.

Question 11

Transverse Wave

Answer 11

A wave with vibrations at right angles to the direction the wave is traveling.

Question 12

Wave Length

Answer 12

The distance from the top of one crest of a wave to the top of the following crest, or equivalently, the distance between identical parts of the wave.

Question 13

Wave

Answer 13

A “wiggle in space and time.” A disturbance that repeats itself regularly in space and time and that is transmitted progressively from one place to the next with no actual transport of matter.

Question 14

Amplitude

Answer 14

The distance from the midpoint to the maximum (crest) of a wave or, equivalently, from the midpoint to the minimum (trough).

Question 15

Destructive Interference

Answer 15

Combination of waves where crests of one wave overlap troughs of another, resulting in a wave of decreased amplitude.