waves Flashcards
what is a wave
an oscillation or vibration that transfers energy
what is amplitude
distance from the middle to the top of the wave
what is wavelength
distance from one peak to the next
what is the peak/crest
the highest point of a wave
what is the trough
the lowest point of a wave
what is a frequency
number of waves that go past a point in a second
what is frequency measured in
Hertz
what are the 2 types of waves
-longitudinal(are represented in lines)
-transverse(goes up and down)
what are rarefactions in longitudinal waves
where the lines are further apart
what are compressions in longitudinal waves
where the lines are closer together
what happens when waves meet
they superpose, meaning they add up or cancel out depending if they are in time with each other
what is a reflection
when waves bounce off surfaces and barriers
