Waves Flashcards
A vibration or disturbance in space
Wave
Transfers energy without transferring matter
Waves
How do you classify waves?
WHAT they move through and HOW particles move through them
The substance that waves travel through and need to have in order to move
Medium
Waves that can travel through matter or empty space where matter is not present
Electromagnetic Waves
Needs a medium, requires the particles of the medium to vibrate in order for energy to transfer
Mechanical Waves
Particles move PERPENDICULAR to the motion of the wave
Transverse Waves
The distance from crest to crest
Wavelength
The distance of the crest to the midpoint
Amplitude
Particles move parallel to the motion of the wave
Longitudinal Waves
A crowded area causing a high pressure region
Compression
A spread out area causing a low pressure region
Rarefraction
The number of waves that pass a fixed point per second
Frequency
The time it takes a wave to travel a distance equal to a wavelength
Period
The distance travelled by a wave crest in one period
Wave velocity
