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Waves and Light
Study cards for different kinds of waves and light
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Wave | A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another. |
Medium | The material through which the wave travels. |
Longitudinal Wave | Particles that move back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels, or parallel to the wave. |
Transverse Wave | Particles move perpendicularly to the direction the wave travels. |
Mechanical Wave | A wave that requires a medium through which to travel. |
Electromagnetic Wave | A disturbance in electric and magnetic fields. |
Amplitude | A measure of how far the particles in the medium move away from their normal rest position. |
Wavelength | The distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave. |
Wave Period (period) | The time required for one wave cycle. |
Frequency | Tells how many cycles occur in an amount of time, usually 1 second. |
Hertz (Hz) | One Hertz is equal to one cycle per second. |
Wave Speed | The speed at which a wave travels. |