Science 10: Waves, Mechanical Properties, and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering wave definitions, parts, characteristics, calculations, and behaviors such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference from Science 10.

Wave

A transmission of energy and a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another through a medium, non-medium, or vacuum, transferring only energy and not matter.

Oscillations

The continuous back-and-forth or side-to-side movement that produces waves.

Mechanical Waves

Waves produced by particle vibrations that require matter or a medium to travel and cannot travel through a vacuum (e.g., sound, seismic, and ocean waves).

Electromagnetic Waves

Waves produced by the interaction of electric and magnetic fields that do not require a material medium and travel at $3.00 \times 10^8\,\text{m/s}$ in a vacuum (e.g., light, radio waves, and X-rays).

Longitudinal Wave

A type of mechanical wave where vibrations occur parallel to the direction of the wave, characterized by regions of compression and rarefraction (e.g., sound waves).

Compression

The region in a longitudinal wave where the wave particles or waves are closer together.

Rarefraction

The region in a longitudinal wave where the waves have spaces in between.

Transverse Wave

A wave in which vibrations occur at a right angle (perpendicular) to the direction of wave travel (e.g., electromagnetic waves).

Crest

The peak or the highest point on a wave.

Equilibrium Position

The rest and undisturbed position of a wave.

Through

The lowest point of a wave.

Amplitude

The distance from the normal line to the crest or through; for electromagnetic waves, it is related to the intensity of radiation.

Wave Length

The set distance representing the full cycle of a wave, measured from crest to crest or through to through.

Frequency

The number of complete cycles or waves passing a point in one second, with the SI unit of Hertz ($\text{Hz}$).

Period

The time required for one complete cycle of a wave, measured in seconds ($\text{s}$) using the formula $t = \frac{1}{f}$.

Wave Speed

The distance traveled by a certain point on a wave over a given time interval, indicating how fast a wave travels from one place to another.

Wave Speed Equation

The mathematical formula $v = f\lambda$, where $v$ is wave speed in $\text{m/s}$, $f$ is frequency in $\text{Hz}$, and $\lambda$ is wavelength in meters ($\text{m}$).

Reflection

The phenomenon that occurs when a wave encounters a barrier and bounces back into the medium from which it originated (e.g., echoes, light from a mirror).

Refraction

The bending or change in direction of a wave when it passes from one medium into another because its speed changes, while frequency remains constant.

Transmission

The passage of light through a transparent material such as glass or water.

Diffraction

The bending of a wave around the edges of an obstacle or the spreading out of a wave after passing through a gap or opening.

Interference

The phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves meet in the same medium and overlap, causing their amplitudes to combine.

Constructive Interference

Interference that occurs when waves meet in phase (such as crest + crest or through + through), combining their amplitudes to produce a wave with a larger amplitude.

Destructive Interference

Interference that occurs when waves meet out of phase (such as crest + through), causing the amplitudes to partially or completely cancel each other.