Waves Vocab

Question 1

A substance which a wave moves through

Answer 1

Medium

Question 2

A wave, such as a sound wave or seismic wave, that transfers kinetic energy through matter.

Answer 2

Mechanical Wave

Question 3

A type of wave in which the disturbance moves at right angles, or perpendicular, to the direction at which the wave travels.

Answer 3

Transverse Wave

Question 4

A type of wave which the disturbance moves in the same direction the wave travels.

Answer 4

Longitudinal Wave

Question 5

The highest point, or peak, of a wave.

Answer 5

Crest

Question 6

The lowest point, or valley, of a wave.

Answer 6

Trough

Question 7

The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position; the distance between the crest or trough of a wave and line through the center of a wave.

Answer 7

Amplitude

Question 8

The distance from one wave peak or crest to the next peak or crest. Wavelength can be measured by as the distance from any part of one wave to the identical part of the next wave.

Answer 8

Wavelength

Question 9

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, usually one second; the number of cycles per minute.

Answer 9

Frequency

Question 10

the bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier.

Answer 10

Reflection

Question 11

The bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between to mediums at an angle other than 90 degrees.

Answer 11

Refraction

Question 12

The spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an object.

Answer 12

Diffraction

Question 13

The meeting and combining of waves; the adding or subtracting of wave amplitudes that occurs as a wave overlaps.

Answer 13

Interference

Question 14

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance.

Answer 14

Waves