Wave Vocabulary – Flashcards
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wave
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a disturbance involving the transfer of energy from place to place
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energy
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ability to do work
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medium
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the material through which a wave travels
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mechanical waves
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waves that require a medium
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vibration
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repeated back and forth or up and down motion
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transverse wave
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a wave that vibrates the medium at right angles or perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels
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crest
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high point on a transverse wave
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trough
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low point on a transverse wave
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longitudinal wave
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vibrates the meduim in the same direction in which the wave travels
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compression
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particles are close together on a longitudinal wave
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rarefaction
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particles are far apart on a longitudinal wave
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amplitude
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the maximum distance the medium vibrates from the rest position
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wavelength
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the distance between two corresponding parts of a wave
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frequency
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number of waves that pass a point in a certain amount of time
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hertz
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number of waves per second, unit used to measure frequency (Hz)
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wave speed
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distance a wave travels in a given amount of time (s = f x w)
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reflection
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waves bounced back after hitting a barrier
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refraction
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bending of waves due to change in speed
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diffraction
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the bending or spreading of waves as they move around a barrier or pass through an opening
