Physics: Waves: Key terms

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21 Terms

1

Transverse

a wave in which the oscillations are at right-angles to the direction of energy transfer, e.g. water waves

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2

Longitudinal

a wave in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer, e.g. sound waves

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3

Oscillate

to vibrate / swing from side to side with a regular frequency

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4

Frequency

the number of times that a wave / vibration repeats itself in a specified time period

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5

Amplitude

the maximum displacement that any particle in a wave achieves from its undisturbed position, measured in metres (m)

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6

Wavelength

the distance from one point on a wave to the equivalent point on the next wave, measured in metres (m), represented by the symbol l

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7

Period

the time taken for a wave to complete one oscillation; the time it takes for a particle in the wave to move backwards and forwards once around its undisturbed position

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8

Electromagnetic (EM) waves

a continuous spectrum of waves formed by electric and magnetic fields, ranging from high frequency gamma rays to low frequency radio waves

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9

Absorbed

to take in and retain (all or some) incident radiated energy

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10

Transmitted

when waves are sent out from a source or pass through a material

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11

Reflected

when a wave meets a boundary between two different materials and is bounced back

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12

Refracted

when a wave meets a boundary between two different materials and changes direction

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13

Refractive index

a measure of the extent to which light is refracted by a material

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14

Medium

a material or substance

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15

Normal

at right-angles to / perpendicular to

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16

Microwaves

electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 0.3 to 0.001 metres, used in satellite communication and cooking

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17

Infared

the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with a longer wavelength than light but a shorter wavelength than radio waves

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18

Ultraviolet

the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths shorter than light but longer than X-rays

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19

X-rays

the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths shorter than that of ultraviolet radiation but longer than gamma rays

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20

Gamma rays

high frequency, short wavelength electromagnetic waves; a type of nuclear radiation, emitted from a nucleus

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21

Ionising

refers to radiation that can cause atoms to lose or gain atoms, becoming ions

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