Save
Busy. Please wait.
Log in with Clever
or
show password
Forgot Password?
Don't have an account?  Sign up 
Sign up using Clever
or
Username is available taken
show password


Make sure to remember your password. If you forget it there is no way for StudyStack to send you a reset link. You would need to create a new account. Your email address is only used to allow you to reset your password. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Already a StudyStack user? Log In

Reset Password
Enter the associated with your account, and we'll email you a link to reset your password.
focusNode
Didn't know it?
click below
 
Knew it?
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
0:00
edit
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

  Normal Size     Small Size show me how

Waves Vocabulary

TermDefinition
Waves disturbances that repeat the same cycle of motion and transfer energy through matter or empty space
Mechanical waves waves that require a medium. Transfers energy as the particles in the medium move (vibrate) up and down or back and forth as the wave travels through it
Electromagnetic waves waves that are capable of transporting energy through the vacuum of outer space. Produced by a vibrating electric charge (consist of both an electric and a magnetic component)
Wavelength distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave
Amplitude distance from rest to crest or rest to trough (maximum amount of displacement of a particle on the medium from its rest position)
Frequency number of complete waves, or cycles of oscillation, in a given period of time; unit is Hertz (equal to one wave per second)
Period time it takes to complete one full cycle
Speed measures how fast a wave is moving
Photons tiny packets of energy
Reflection when a wave hits an object that it cannot pass through or reaches the boundary of the medium of transmission; the return of the wave as it bounces off the object or medium boundary
Refraction wave passes from one medium into another at an angle and bends (changes direction) due to a change in speed
Diffraction wave passes through a hole or moves past a barrier and spreads out in the region beyond the hole or barrier
Interference when two or more waves arrive at the same point at the same time. (Waves combine to produce a single wave with different properties from the original waves)
Constructive Interference where interfering waves have a displacement in the same direction resulting in a larger amplitude
Destructive Interference where interfering waves have a displacement in the opposite direction resulting in a smaller amplitude
Doppler Effect phenomenon of a change in the observed frequency of a wave, sound or light, that occurs when the source and observer are in motion relative to each other
Crest highest point within a cycle of a wave
Trough lowest point within a cycle of a wave
Hertz unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second
Longitudinal wave wave in which the particles of the medium are displaced in a direction parallel to the direction of energy transport
Medium matter a wave travels through (solid, liquid, or gas)
Pitch distinctive quality of a sound, dependent primarily on the frequency of the sound waves produced by its source
Transverse wave wave in which the particles of the medium are displaced in a direction perpendicular to the direction of energy transport
Compression point on a medium through which a longitudinal wave is traveling that has the maximum density (region where the coils are pressed together in a small amount of space)
Rarefaction point on a medium through which a longitudinal wave is traveling that has the minimum density (region where the coils are spread apart, maximizing the distance between coils)
Electromagnetic Spectrum continuous range of frequencies that electromagnetic waves exist. The longer wavelength, lower frequency regions are located on the far left of the spectrum and the shorter wavelength, higher frequency regions are on the far right
Radio waves electromagnetic waves that have the longest wavelengths, lowest frequency, and least amount of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum
Microwaves electromagnetic waves found at the higher frequency end of the radio waves on the electromagnetic spectrum
Infrared Waves electromagnetic waves just beyond the visible spectrum of light
Visible Light Waves portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see
Ultraviolet Waves electromagnetic waves that have shorter wavelengths than visible light
X-rays electromagnetic waves that have higher energy and much shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet light
Gamma Rays electromagnetic waves that have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum
Created by: LizardMogg
Popular Physical Science sets

 

 



Voices

Use these flashcards to help memorize information. Look at the large card and try to recall what is on the other side. Then click the card to flip it. If you knew the answer, click the green Know box. Otherwise, click the red Don't know box.

When you've placed seven or more cards in the Don't know box, click "retry" to try those cards again.

If you've accidentally put the card in the wrong box, just click on the card to take it out of the box.

You can also use your keyboard to move the cards as follows:

If you are logged in to your account, this website will remember which cards you know and don't know so that they are in the same box the next time you log in.

When you need a break, try one of the other activities listed below the flashcards like Matching, Snowman, or Hungry Bug. Although it may feel like you're playing a game, your brain is still making more connections with the information to help you out.

To see how well you know the information, try the Quiz or Test activity.

Pass complete!
"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries:
restart all cards