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3UWaves
Terms & Definitions for the SPH3U Waves & Sound unit
Term | Definition |
---|---|
vibration | repeated pattern of motion; also called a cycle |
cycle | repeated pattern of motion; also called a vibration |
wave | disturbance that transfers energy through a medium by means of a series of vibrations |
amplitude | maximum displacement of a vibrating object from its rest position |
rest position | position of an object or medium before it starts to vibrate; also called equilibrium position |
medium | a material through which waves travel |
wavelength | the distance of the repeating portion of a wave; the length between two corresponding points on the wave |
period | the time required to complete one cycle of a vibration |
frequency | the number of cycles per unit of time |
longitudinal vibration | the motion of the vibrating object is parallel to its length (eg. a mass bounces up and down vertically as it hangs from a spring) |
transverse vibration | the motion of the vibrating object is perpendicular to its length (eg. the pendulum of a grandfather clock swinging back and forth) |