Waves Flashcards
A substance through which a wave moves
Medium
A wave, such as a sound wave or a seismic wave, that transfers kinetic energy through matter
Mechanical wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance moves at right angles, or perpendicular, to the direction in which a wave travels
Transverse wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance moves in the same direction that the wave travels
Longitudinal wave
The highest point, or peak, of a wave
Crest
The lowest point, or valley, of a wave
Trough
The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position
Amplitude
The distance from one wave peak to the next peace or crest
Wavelength
The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, usually one second
Frequency
The bouncing back of a wave after it hits a barrier
Reflection
The bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between two mediums at an angle other than 90 degrees.
Refraction
The spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an obstacle
Diffraction
The meeting and combining of waves
Interference
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance.
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