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Waves
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wave | A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place. |
| Amplitude | The maximum distance that the particles of a medium move from the rest position. |
| Wavelength | The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave. |
| Seismic Waves | Waves produced by earthquakes. |
| Frequency | Speed divided by wavelength. |
| Constructive Interference | When two waves combine to make a larger amplitude. |
| Destructive Interference | When two waves combine to make a smaller amplitude. |
| Mechanical Waves | Waves that require a medium to travel through. |
| Longitudinal Waves | Waves that move the particles of the medium parallel to the direction in which the waves are traveling. |
| Crest | The highest part of a transverse wave. |
| Trough | The lowest part of a transverse wave. |
| Diffraction | The bending of waves around a barrier. |
| Law of Reflection | The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. |
| Refraction | The bending of waves due to a change in speed. |
| Rarefaction | The part of a longitudinal wave where the coils are farthest apart. |
| Primary Waves | A longitudinal seismic wave. |
| Secondary Waves | A transverse seismic wave. |