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waves
the study of waves and their properties
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| wave | a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter |
| mechanical wave | a wave that travels only through matter |
| medium | a material in which a wave travels |
| transverse wave | a wave in which a disturbance is perpendicular to the direction the wave travels |
| longitudinal wave | a wave vibration in the direction of propagation. |
| sound wave | a wave of compression and rarefaction, by which sound is propagated in an elastic medium such as air. |
| amplitude | the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium. |
| wave length | the spatial distance between two consecutive, identical points in a wave cycle |
| pitch | the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone. |