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All About Waves
Properties of Waves
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Transverse Wave | Waves where the medium moves at right angles to the wave direction. |
Wave | A disturbance that carries energy from place to place. |
Longitudinal Wave | Waves where the medium moves back and forth in the wave direction. |
Crest | The highest point of a transverse wave. |
Trough | The lowest point of a transverse wave. |
Medium | Material waves travel through: gases, liquids, solids. |
Mechanical Wave | Waves that require a medium. (sound waves) |
Electromagnetic Wave | Waves that don't require a medium. (radio waves) |
Compression | Where particles are closest together in a longitudinal wave. |
Rarefaction | Where particles are farthest apart in a longitudinal wave. |
Wavelength | The distance between one point on a wave and the same point on the next wave. |
Amplitude | How far the medium moves from the rest position. |
Wave Speed | The speed that a wave travels. Wave speed = frequency x wavelength. |
Frequency | How many waves go past a point in one second. |
What do waves with higher amplitude or frequency have? | They have higher energy. |
Reflection | Waves that bounce off a surface. |
Law of Reflection | The angle of light going to the surface is at the same angle as the reflection. |
Refraction | Bending of waves when reaching a new medium. |
Diffraction | The bending of waves around an object. |