Physics Vocab Waves and Sound

Wave

a travelling disturbance that carries energy from place to place

Wave Pulse

a single crest or trough

Electromagnetic Wave

do not need a physical material/medium for the propagation of energy

Mechanical Wave

requires a physical medium for the propagation of energy (sound)

Transverse Wave

a wave in which the direction of vibration of the particles is perpendicular to direction in which the wave travels

Longitudinal Wave

a wave in which the direction of vibration of the particles is parallel to direction in which the wave travels

Amplitude

the maximum displacement of a wave particle from equilibrium

Frequency

the number of cycles in a given number of time

Period

the time it takes one wave to go through one vibration

Wavelength

the shortest distance between repeating points on a wave

Crest

the peak of the wave

Trough

the lowest point of the wave

Compression

high pressure area of longitudinal waves

Rarefaction

low pressure area of longitudinal waves

Reflection

the return of a wave from a boundary to the medium from which it came

Refraction

the bending of a wave due to a change in wave speed as the wave travels from one medium to the other

Diffraction

the spreading of a wave disturbance beyond the edge of a barrier

Interference

the resulting effect of two waves passing through the same medium at the same time