waves vocab Flashcards
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance.
Waves
A substance through which a wave moves.
Medium
A wave, such as a sound wave or 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 the wave travels.
Transverse Wave
A type of wave in which the disturbance moves in the same direction that the wave travels.
Longitudinal Wave
The distance from one wave peak or crest, to another peak or crest.
Wavelength
The lowest point, or valley, of a wave.
Trough
The highest point, or peak, of a wave.
Crest
The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position.
Amplitude
The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, usually one second.
Frequency
The range of all electromagnetic frequencies, including the following types (from lowest to highest frequency): radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The part of the wave that is spread out; less dense part.
Rarefaction
The part of the wave that is squeezed together; denser part.
Compression
The passage of a wave through a medium.
Transmission
The disappearance of a wave into a medium.
Absorption
