Waves and Radiation - Key Terms Year 9

Wave

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space. Created when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate.

Transverse wave

A wave where the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction the wave is travelling in.

Longitudinal wave

A wave where the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction.

Wavelength

The distance from one point of a wave to another. Eg crest to crest.

Amplitude

The distance from the resting point of the medium to the crest or the trough.

Frequency

How many times a wavelength happens per second, or number of vibrations per second.

Speed

The distance a wave travels in a given amount of time, or the number of meters it travels per second.

Hertz

The unit of frequency. One hertz has a periodic interval of one second.

Pitch

Our ear's perception of the frequency of a sound.

Medium

A solid, liquid or gas that a wave can travel through.

Speed formula

speed = frequency x wavelength