Waves Test December 23rd 2025

Crest

The HIGHEST point of a TRANSVERSE wave

Trough

The LOWEST point of a TRANSVERSE wave

Wavelength

The DISTANCE between the midpoint of a wave to the EXACT same spot on the next wave (crest to crest or trough to trough)

Frequency (in general)

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in one second

Amplitude (in general)

The distance between a crest or trough and the resting point.

Two basic categories of waves

Electromagnetic waves (no medium needed) and Mechanical Waves (medium needed)

Wave

A repeating disturbance or movement that moves energy through the matter OR space

Medium

matter (liquid, gas, solid) that mechanical waves travel through

Amplitude in a compressional wave

Increasing or decreasing amplitude affects the volume/sound

Frequency In A SOUND wave

Pitch

2 Types of mechanical waves

Compressional/longitudinal and Transverse

Electromagnetic Wave Examples

Light, radio, x-ray, UV, and microwaves

Electromagnetic waves

Doesn’t need a medium to transfer energy and can travel through space.

Mechanical Wave

Needs a medium to transfer energy

If wavelength increases, what happens?

The frequency decreases (the opposite is true too)

Compression

An area on the wave where the medium becomes more dense (squeezed tightly together)

Rarefaction

An are a on the wave where the medium is less dense

Reflection