Wave Flashcards
Wave
a disturbance caused by a vibration that propagates through space and time
Crest
the highest point of a wave
Trough
the lowest point of a wave
Amplitude
height or strength of a wave
frequency
the number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time
wavelength
the distance between one peak and the next on a wave
period
the distance between two waves passing through a stationary point measured in seconds
medium
The medium of a wave is any substance that carries the wave
transverse wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave
electromagnetic wave
a wave that can transport its energy through a vacuum
longitudinal wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium move parallel to the direction of the wave
compression
A compression is a region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together
rarefaction
area of decreased pressure following compression as a longitudinal wave propagates
reflection
a change in the direction of a wave when it hits a barrier and bounces back
diffraction
refers to various phenomena that occur when a wave encounters an obstacle or a slit
