Waves Flashcards
What is a wave?
a disturbance that travels through space and carries energy
What is a mechanical wave?
a wave that needs a medium to travel
What is an electromagnetic wave?
a wave that does not need a medium to travel
What is a transverse wave?
a wave that travels perpendicular to the medium in which it is traveling
What is a longitudinal wave?
a wave that travels parallel to the medium in which it is traveling
What is a crest?
the highest part of the wave
What is a trough?
the lowest part of the wave
What is a wavelength?
the distance between two adjacent crests of a wave
What is frequency?
the number of waves that pass a fixed point per unit of time
What is amplitude?
the height of the wave
What is a period?
the amount of time required for one wave to complete one full cycle
What is reflection?
when a wave strikes a barrier and bounces off
What is refraction?
occurs when a wave bends and it moves from one medium to another medium
What is diffraction?
occurs when a wave bends as it moves around a barrier or through a slit or an edge
What is the formula for the speed of a wave?
V=fλ
v - speed (m/sec)
f - frequency (Hz)
λ - wavelength (meters)
