Waves Flashcards
Oscillation
a repetitive motion that usually occurs about a center point
Electromagnetic wave
a combination of an oscillating electric field and an oscillating magnetic field; electromagnetic waves can travel through both the vacuum of space and a medium
Equilibrium
a position or state to which an oscillating object eventually returns after a disturbance is gone
Mechanical waves
waves that can travel only through matter and require a medium to transport their energy
Vacuum
a space in which there is no matter
Transverse wave
a wave where the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling
Longitudinal wave
a wave where the oscillation is parallel to the direction the wave is traveling
Equilibrium position
the center point of a wave where no movement is occurring
Crest
the highest point of a transverse wave
Amplitude
vertical distance from the equilibrium to the crest or the equilibrium to the trough of a transverse wave
Wavelength
the horizontal distance after which the wave repeats itself in space
Period
an interval in time after which the motion of a particle on the medium starts to repeat
Frequency
the number of oscillations the wave makes in a given amount of time, typically a second
Trough
the lowest point of a transverse wave
