Waves Flashcards
Wave
a disturbance caused by a vibration; Waves travel away from the source that makes them.
Crest
the highest point of a wave
Trough
the lowest point of a wave
Amplitude
height or “strength” of a wave
Frequency
the number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time; the number of times something happens in a period of time
Wavelength
the distance between one peak and the next on a wave
Period
the amount of time required for two successive wave crests to pass a fixed point in space; the reciprocal of frequency
Medium
the intervening substance through which impressions are conveyed to the senses or a force acts on objects at a distance
Transverse wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave
Electromagnetic wave
a wave that can transport its energy through a vacuum
Longitudinal wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium move parallel to the direction of the wave
Compression
A compression is a region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together.The region where the medium is compressed is known as a compression
Rarefaction
area of decreased pressure following compression as a longitudinal wave propagates
Reflection
a change in the direction of a wave when it hits a barrier and bounces back
Refraction
a change in the direction and velocity which occurs when a seismic or electromagnetic wave travels from one material into another of different density, state, or elasticity
