Waves Vocabulary Flashcards
Frequency
the number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time; the number of times something happens in a period of time
Peroid
Wave period is the distance between two waves passing through a stationary point, measured in seconds
Wave length
the distance between one peak and the next on a wave
Crest
the highest point of a wave
Trough
A trough is the opposite of a crest, so the minimum or lowest point in a cycle.
Amplitude
Is the peak value of a wave.
Longitudinal waves
a wave that vibrates in the same direction as it travels; also called a compression wave
Electromagnetic waves
one of the waves that are propagated by simultaneous periodic variations of electric and magnetic field intensity and that include radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Transverse wave
a wave vibrating at right angles to the direction of its propagation.
Compression
a longitudinal wave (such as a sound wave) propagated by the elastic compression of the medium. — called also compression wave.
Rarefaction
diminution in the density of something, especially air or a gas.
Reflection
Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two different media so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated. Common examples include the reflection of light, sound and water waves.
Diffraction
the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge, typically accompanied by interference between the wave forms produced.
Refraction
the fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc. being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.
