Vocab List - Waves & Sounds Flashcards
Wave
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another
Frequency
The number of cycles a wave makes per second
Period
The amount of time it takes for a wave to complete one cycle
Amplitude
The maximum displacement (height) from the equilibrium position
Wavelength
The horizontal distance of one full cycle
Longitudinal Waves
A type of wave whose particles move along the direction of - or parallel to - energy transfer
Ex. sound, seismic P waves
Transverse Waves
A type of wave whose particles move perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
Ex. light, seismic S waves, water waves
Mechanical Waves
A type of wave that requires a medium (or a substance) to move through
Ex. sound, water waves, seismic waves
Electromagnetic wave
A type of wave that does not require a medium to travel through
Ex. light
Doppler Effect
A phenomenon in which an observer hears a different frequency than produced then the source is in motion
Pitch
The frequency of a sound wave
Volume
The amplitude of a sound wave
Infrasound
The frequency range below that which humans can hear
Ultrasound
The frequency range above that which humans can hear
Interference
The interaction of two or more waves
