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Waves& Light
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| medium | is the material through which a wave travels. |
| wave | is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another. |
| longitudinal wave | particles move back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels, or parallel to the wave. |
| transverse wave | is when particles move perpendicularly to the direction the wave travels. |
| mechanical wave | a wave that requires a medium through which to travel. |
| electromagnetic wave | is a disturbance in electric and magnetic fields. |
| wavelength | distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave. |
| wave period | the time required for one cycle |
| frequency | a wave tells how many cycles occur in an amount of time |
| hertz | one hertz is equal to one cycle per second. |
| wave speed | depends on the properties of the medium |