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Waves Vocabulary

TermDefinition
Waves Oscillations that carry energy and that move through vacuums or matter
Oscillation An up-and-down or back-and-forth motion
Vacuum Space that has no matter in it
Mechanical Waves Waves that move through matter
Types of Mechanical Waves 1. Waves that move from water molecule to water molecule, creating a ripple 2. Sound waves that travel through vibrations, from mouth to ear for example
Electromagnetic Waves Waves that don't need matter to travel (travel through vacuums, such as outer space)
Types of Electromagnetic Waves Light waves, X-rays, & Radio waves
Wave Properties 1. Amplitude 2. Wavelength 3. Frequency 4. Wave Speed
Amplitude One-half the distance between a wave's high point (crest) and low point (trough), measures how much a wave is displaced from its resting point
Crest The high point of a wave
Trough The low point of a wave
Resting Point The straight line representing the wave at rest
Wavelength and Symbol Measured from point to point of a wave; λ
Wavelength Units Meters (m)
3 Ways to Measure Wavelengths Are Crest to crest, trough to trough, & comparing it to the frequency
Frequency The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time
Units for Frequency Hertz (Hz)
Wave Speed The time it takes a wave to move from one point to another
Wave Speed Units Velocity (V)
Wave Speed Equation wave speed = frequency x wavelength
Medium Any substance that carries a wave, such as earth, water, or air
Reflection When a wave bounces off a surface (ex: when you look into a mirror)
Law of Reflection A wave reflects at the same angle that it moved towards the barrier at
Reflected Ray The wave that is bounced off the barrier
Incident Ray The wave that moves toward the barrier
Refraction The bending of waves as they travel through different mediums (ex: when you stand in a pool and your legs look short)
Diffraction The bending of waves around a barrier or the spreading of waves past small openings (ex: when ocean waves come through a pier)
Interference The result of waves colliding with each other
Constructive Interference Waves combining to create a larger wave
Destructive Interference Waves interfering with each other and cancel each other out
Absorption The transfer of energy from a wave to matter as it passes through it
Absorbed Colors The wavelengths of light that are being absorbed by a substance
Reflected Colors The wavelengths of light that are not being absorbed by a substance and instead reflected, which is why that object appears that color (ex: red apple, red is reflected)
Electromagnetic Spectrum The expansive range of wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic waves: radio waves < microwaves < infrared waves < visible light < ultraviolet rays < x-rays < gamma rays
Visible Light Spectrum The only electromagnetic waves humans can see (from 700 to 400 nanometers)
Longitudinal Wave Waves with motion parallel to the direction of movement (oscillation)
Expansion The region of a longitudinal wave where the particles are spread further out
Compression The region of a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together
Intensity (of Sound) How much energy a sound wave carries past a certain area, caused by amplitude of a wave
Units of Sound The decibel scale (dB)
Pitch The perception of high and low sound wave frequency (long and short wavelengths)
Analog Signal Carries information but vary in amplitude and frequency
Digital Signal Sends information out as wave pulses (1's and 0's)
Created by: 2022dasu
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