| Term | Definition |
| Wave | A disturbance that moves through matter or space |
| Transverse Wave | Causes particles in matter to move back and forth at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels |
| Compressional Wave | Causes particles in matter to move back and forth along the same direction in which the wave travels |
| Wavelength | The distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point moving with the same speed and direction (Crest to Crest or Trough to Trough) |
| Frequency | Number of wavelengths that pass by a point each second |
| Law of Reflection | The angle that the incoming wave makes with the normal equals the angle that the outgoing wave makes with the normal |
| Refraction | The change in direction of a wave when it changes speed as it travels form one material to another |
| Diffraction | Bending of waves around an object |
| Opaque | Materials that let no light pass through it |
| Translucent | Only allows some light to pass through it |
| Transparent | Allows nearly all light to pass through it |
| Reflect | When light bounces off an object |
| Absorb | When all light is absorbed into an object |
| Transmit | When light goes through an object |
| Loudness | Volume, The magnitude of sound |
| Pitch | The quality of sound (High, Medium, Low) |
| Echolocation | The location of objects by reflected sound |
| Echo | A sound or many sounds caused by sound waves bouncing of a surface back to a listener |
| Doppler Effect | An increase or decrease in the frequency of sound, light, or other waves as one person moves closer or farther away from the other person. |
