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Waves

Terms in this set (45)

Wave
A moving disturbance that transfers energy through matter and space
Water waves, light waves, sound waves, microwaves, radio waves, X-ray waves, ultraviolet waves and seismic waves
What are some wave examples?
Waves that do not require a medium, and waves that do
The two categories of waves are
Medium
Something through which waves travel (solid, liquid, gas)
Water
In water a water wave the medium is ___________
Air
In a sound wave the medium is _____________
Ground
In an earthquake, the medium is __________
Light
One kind of wave that does not require a medium is ______________
Electromagnetic waves
can transmit energy through empty space (a vacuum)
Radio waves, light waves, infrared waves, ultraviolet waves, x-rays, gamma rays
Examples of electromagnetic waves
Mechanical waves
Waves that require a medium in order to transfer energy
Sound waves, water waves, seismic waves
Examples of mechanical waves
Longitudinal waves
The profiles of the medium vibrate in the same direction as (or parallel to) the direction that the wave is traveling
Sound
One common form of a longitudinal wave is _____________
Transverse waves
The particles of the medium vibrate in the opposite direction of (or perpendicular to) the direction that the wave is traveling
Light
One common form of transverse waves are ______________
Energy traveling
A wave is _____________
Transverse
In a ___________ wave the particles of the medium vibrate PERPENDICULAR to the direction the wave is traveling
longitudinal wave
In a __________ ________ the particles of the medium vibrate PARALLEL to the direction the wave is traveling
Longitudinal
Sound is n example of a ____________ wave
Transverse
Light is an example of a _____________
Wave length
The distance between one point on a wave and the exact same point of the next wave
Amplitude
The maximum extent of vibration or the distance from the resting position to the medium of the crest/trough
Frequency
The number of waves produced in a given amount of time (measured in hertz)
Crest
Highest point of transversal wave
Trough
Lowest point of the transversal wave
Compression
The squished up part of a longitudinal wave
Rarefaction
Spread out parts of a longitudinal wave
energy only
waves are ___________ that can travel through matter
rest position
the position of the particles before any wave energy is applied is called the __________
electromagnetic and mechanical
two types of wave energy are
a smaller wavelength
which of the following demonstrates more energy in a wave?
sound waves
which of the following types of waves require a medium?
wave
what is energy that travels by a vibration causing a disturbance
longitudinal
a wave that moves in a back and forth motion is a
mechanical
what is a wave that needs a medium in order to travel?
electromagnetic
a wave that does not need a medium to travel
amplitude
what is the measurement of the height of a transverse wave or how packed compressions are?
Wavelength
what is the measurement of the distance between one point on a wave to the next identical point?
frequency
what is the number of wave cycles in a given amount of time?
hertz
what is the term of measurement with frequency
2 hertz
if a wave with 2 crests and troughs occurred in one second what is its frequency?
compression to compression
how could you measure a wavelength on a longitudinal wave?
compression
which part of a longitudinal wave is pressed together?
rarefaction
which part of the longitudinal wave is spread apart?
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