Waves-bams

Terms	Definitions
crest	the highest point of a wave
diffraction	the bending of waves around a barrier
frequency	the number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time
surface wave	A combination of a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave that occurs along the surface of a medium.
wave	a repeating disturbance or movement that transfers energy through matter or space
interference	when two or more waves overlap and combine to form a new wave
trough	the lowest point of a wave
resonant frequency	natural frequency at which a specific wave vibrates; standing waves vibrate at the resonant frequency
mechanical wave	A wave that requires a medium to travel through
vibration	A repeated back-and-forth or up-and-down motion (motion follows the same path each time)
electromagnetic wave	a wave that can travel through space or a medium and consists of changing electric and magnetic fields
amplitude	the height of a wave from the rest to a crest, or from the rest to a trough
standing wave	Wave that appears to not move-is really two waves interfering as they pass through each other-has a node and antinode- occurs at resonant frequency
refraction	the bending of a wave caused by a change in its speed as it moves from one medium to another
medium	matter in which a wave travels (solid, liquid, or gas) NOT a vacuum
transverse	a wave in which the particles vibrate perpendicular, or at right angles, to the direction of the wave (particles move up and down, wave moves R to L)
reflection	the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass
wavelength	The distance from any point on a wave to an identical point on the next wave (crest to crest or trough to trough)
longitudinal	A wave in which the vibration is parallel, or in the same direction, as the wave is traveling (particles move R to L and wave moves R to L)
vacuum	a space where no particles of matter exist
perpendicular	two lines that intersect to form right angles
parallel	two lines that lie in the same plane and do not intersect
node	The points on a standing wave that remain stationary
antinode	a point of maximum amplitude on a standing wave
equilibrium point	baseline of a medium....medium at rest
disturbance	An intrusion or interruption
constructive	constructive means to build up; a combination of waves form a larger wave
destructive	destructive means to tear down; a combination of waves form a smaller wave
Hertz	Unit of wave frequency; 1 Hertz= 1 wave/second