Waves Unit

Dr. Ng C Block Class

Transverse Wave

A wave where particles move perpendicular to the direction of wave motion; the waves move up and down

Longitudinal Wave

A wave where particles move parallel to the direction of wave motion; the waves move in and out

Wave

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.

Oscillation

Moving back and forth at a regular rate.

Medium

The material through which a wave moves.

Wavelength

The distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefactions in a longitudinal wave.

Frequency

The number of oscillations a point on a wave undergoes per unit time.

Mechanical Waves

Waves that require a medium to propagate.

Electromagnetic Waves

Waves consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that do not require a medium.

Period

The time taken for a point on a wave to complete one oscillation.

Reflection

Waves bouncing off the edge of a medium back into the same medium.

Interference

The combining of two or more waves occupying the same space.

Resonance

Objects oscillating with increasing amplitude when stimulated with vibrations of a specific frequency.

Diffraction

Waves bending around objects, providing evidence of wave behavior.