Wave Vocabulary

wave

a disturbance involving the transfer of energy from place to place

energy

ability to do work

medium

the material through which a wave travels

mechanical waves

waves that require a medium

vibration

repeated back and forth or up and down motion

transverse wave

a wave that vibrates the medium at right angles or perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels

crest

high point on a transverse wave

trough

low point on a transverse wave

longitudinal wave

vibrates the meduim in the same direction in which the wave travels

compression

particles are close together on a longitudinal wave

rarefaction

particles are far apart on a longitudinal wave

amplitude

the maximum distance the medium vibrates from the rest position

wavelength

the distance between two corresponding parts of a wave

frequency

number of waves that pass a point in a certain amount of time

hertz

number of waves per second, unit used to measure frequency (Hz)

wave speed

distance a wave travels in a given amount of time (s = f x w)

reflection

waves bounced back after hitting a barrier

refraction

bending of waves due to change in speed

diffraction

the bending or spreading of waves as they move around a barrier or pass through an opening