Waves Flashcards
Transverse wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Oscillation
A back-and-forth, up and down or vibration movement.
Mechanical Wave
A wave that requires a medium to travel through, such as sound waves or water waves.
Longitudinal wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction of wave.
Wavelength
The distance between two consecutive points in a wave.
Angle of incidence
The angle between an incoming wave and the normal to the surface it is striking.
Transverse wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Visible light
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.
Medium
The substance or material through which a wave travels.
Electromagnetic wave
A wave that consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, such as radio waves or light waves. These do NOT need a medium to travel.
Reflection
When a wave strikes an object and bounces off
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes at an angle from one medium to another
mechanical wave
a wave that can travel only through matter (solid, liquid, gas)
medium
Material through which a wave travel
electromagnetic waves
A form of energy that can travel through space.
