Waves Flashcards
Wave
A repeating disturbance or movement that transfers energy through matter or space
Medium
The matter the waves travel through
Transverse wave
Where matter in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction that the wave travels
Compressional wave
Where matter in the medium moves back and forth along the same direction that the wave travels
Sound waves
When something makes noise, it creates vibrations which push the air molecules around it to create a sound wave
Water waves
Seismic waves
Crests
High points in a transverse wave
Troughs
Low points in a transverse wave
Rarefraction
The less dense region of a compressional wave
Wavelength
The distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point just like it
Frequency
The number of wavelengths that pass a fixed point each second
Amplitude
How tightly the medium is pushed together at the compressions
Refraction
The bending of a wave caused by a change in its speed
Diffraction
It occurs when an object causes a wave to change direction and bend around it
Interference
When two or more waves overlap and combine to form a new wave
Standing wave
A special type of wave pattern that forms when waves equal in wavelength and amplitude but traveling in opposite direction continuously interfere with each other
Resonance
The process by which an object is made to vibrate by absorbing energy at its natural frequencies
Eardrum
A tough membrane about 0.1 mm thick
Cochlea
A spiral shaped structure that is filled with liquid and contains tiny hair cells
Intensity
The amount of energy that flows through a certain area in a specific amount of time
Loudness
The human perception of intensity
Decibel
The unit used for sound intensity
Pitch
How high or low a sound seems to be
Ultrasonic
Sound frequencies over 20,000 Hz
Doppler effect
The change in pitch or wave frequency due to a moving wave source
Music
It is made of sounds that are deliberately used in a regular pattern
Sound quality
It describes the differences among sounds of the same pitch and loudness
Overtone
A vibration whose frequency is a multiple of the fundamental frequency
Resonator
an apparatus that increases the resonance of a sound, especially a hollow part of a musical instrument.
Acoustics
the properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it.
Echolocation
the location of objects by reflected sound, in particular that used by animals such as dolphins and bats.
Sonar
a system for the detection of objects under water and for measuring the water’s depth by emitting sound pulses and detecting or measuring their return after being reflected.
