Waves Vocabulary Flashcards
Frequency
The number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time.
Period
The time needed for one complete cycle of vibration to pass in a given point.
Wavelength
The distance between one peak and the next on a wave.
Crest
The highest point of a wave
Trough
The lowest part of a wave
Medium
The part of the medium frequency
Amplitude
Height or “strength” of a wave
Compressional Wave
A wave that vibrates the same way as it travels
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends
Transverse Wave
A wave vibrating at right angles to the direction of its propagation
Compression
The action of compression or being compressed
Rarefaction
The reduction of an items density
Reflection
To strike a surface and bounce back in the opposite direction
Refraction
The change of direction of a wave passing from one medium to another
Diffraction
When a wave occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or slit
