Wave Flashcards
Medium
A medium is any substance that a wane moves through.
Mechanical waves
Waves that transfers energy through matter are known as mechanical waves.
Transverse wave
Transverse waves are the direction in which the wave travels is perpendicular or at right angles to the direction of the disturbance.
Longitudinal wave
The travels in the same direction as the disturbance.
Crest
A crest is the highest point or peak of a wave
Trough
A trough is the lowest point or valley of the wave
Amplitude
For a transverse wave is the distance between a line through the middle of the wave and a crest or trough
Wavelength
The distance from one wave crest to the very next crest.
Frequency
The number of waves passing a fixed point in a certain amount of time.
Reflection
The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier
Refraction
Is the blending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle other then 90 degrees
Diffraction
Is the spreading out of waves through an opening of around the edge of an obstacle
Interference
Is the meeting and combining of waves
Electromagnetic
The range of an EM frequencies
Spectrum
This can be represented by a diagram like the one below
Radio waves
Are EM waves that have the longest wavelengths.
Microwaves
Are EM waves with shorter wavelengths higher frequencies and higher energy than other radio waves
Visible light
Is the part of the EM spectrum that human eyes can see
Infrared light
Part of the spectrum consist of EM frequencies between microwaves and visible light
Ultraviolet light
Part of a EM spectrum consists of frequencies above those invisible light and partially below those of x-rays
X-rays
Have frequencies from about 10.16 Hz 10.21 Hz
Gamma rays
Have frequencies from about 10.19 Hz to more then 10.24 Hz
Wave
A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another
