| Question |
 |
|
| Answer |
|
|
| wave |
an oscillation that travels |
| vibration |
a word that means the same as oscillation |
| wave pulse |
a short length of wave that travels |
| transverse |
a wave where the oscillation is perpindicular to the direction of motion |
| longitudinal |
a wave where the oscillation is in the same direction as the direction of motion |
| wavelength |
the length of one complete wave |
| natural frequency |
a special frequency at which objects vibrate if they are disturbed |
| resonance |
a special condition where the frequency you push matches the natural frequency of the system, resulting in large amplitude waves |
| interference |
the interaction of two or more waves with each other |
| boundary |
a place where a wave changes suddenly |
| reflection |
the process of bouncing a wave off a boundary |
| refraction |
the process of bending a wave as it crosses a boundary |
| diffraction |
what happens when a wave bends around obstacles or through holes |
| absorption |
the process where a wave gets smaller and smaller |
| node |
a point on a wave where there is no motion |
| antinode |
the place on a wave where the amplitude is largest |
| harmonic |
a wave whose frequency is a multiple of another wave |
| standing wave |
a wave that is trapped between two boundaries |
| harmonic motion |
back and forth or repeating motion |
| cycle |
a part of motion that repeats over and over |
| system |
a group of things we think are important to consider when analyzing something |
| oscillator |
a system in harmonic motion |
| hertz |
a unit of one cycle per second |
| period |
the time it takes to complete one cycle |
| frequency |
the number of cycles per second |
| amplitude |
the size of a cycle |
| damping |
any process that causes cycles to get smaller and smaller in amplitude |
| phase |
a way to identify where an oscillator is in its cycle |
MedTemCP5 Word+Pics
