Physics SL / Chapter 12, 13 and 14

Wavefront

lines going through points that have the same phase (crests, troughs)

Wave

a disturbance or displacement of some medium that carries energy;
oscillation travels and carries energy

Wavelength

a length of one full wave
(distance from crest to crest or trough to trough)

Mechanical wave

a disturbance that travels in a medium through oscillation of the particles of the medium

Crest

Highest point of a wave
(peaks, max amplitude etc)

Trough

the lowest point of a wave
(goes through the middle of a wave?, amplitude 0)

Period (T) [s]

time of one full oscillation or one full wave, 1/f

Frequency (f) [Hz]

number of completed oscillations in one second, 1/T

speed of a wave

depends on properties of a medium not on how the wave was produced

Transverse waves

a displacement of the particles of a medium at right angles to the direction of energy transfer (up and down)

Longitudinal waves

a displacement of the particles of a medium is parallel to the direction of energy transfered (left and right)

Compression

a point with highest density in medium

Rarefaction

a point of lowest density in medium

Amplitude

max displacement from equilibrium of a wave or oscillation

Phase difference

time difference between two peaks of the same wavelength (?)

Ray

show direction of propagation;
in which direction wave moves

Diffraction

occurs when an object causes a wave to change direction and bend around it;
bending of a wave due to Huygens principle

Displacement

change in position from the equilibrium (m), a = 0, v = max

Equilibrium position

no force acting on the body, no net force