Waves

Wave

A repeating disturbance that moves energy through matter or space from one place to another

Medium

Matter that mechanical waves moves through

Crest

The highest point of a transverse wave

Trough

The lowest point of a transverse wave

Wavelength of transverse wave

The distance between two crests, two troughs, or two identical points

2 major types of waves

Mechanical and Electromagnetic

2 types of mechanical waves

Transversal and Compressional

Amplitude

The amount of energy a wave contains, measured by the distance between a crest or trough and the resting point.

Amplitude of sound waves

Volume

Frequency

The amount of waves passes a certain point in one second, measured in hertz’s.

Frequency of sound waves

Pitch

Wavelength of compressional waves

The distance between two identical rare fractions or compressions.

Electromagnetic Wave

A major type of wave that does not need a medium to travel through

Mechanical Wave

A major type of wave that does need a medium to travel through

Examples of Electromagnetic Waves

Light waves, UV rays, X rays, Microwaves, Gamma rays

Transverse wave

A type of mechanical wave where the energy in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction the wave travels.

Longitudinal/Compressional wave

A type of mechanical wave where the energy moves back and forth in the same direction the energy travels.

Compression

An area on the wave where the medium becomes more dense

Rarefraction

An area on the wave where the medium is less dense

If wavelength increases

Frequency decreases

If wavelength deacreses

Frequency increases

Reflection

The process of a wave hitting an object and bounces off of it.

Absorption

When a wave hits a material and it is not reflected back, gets sucked in

Transmission

To go through

Amplitude Compressional Wave

The amplitude depends on the density of the medium in the compressions and rare fractions

Very high amplitude compressional wave

High density compressions and low density rarefractions