Introduction to waves

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic wave physics, properties, and interactions with matter.

Wave

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.

Mechanical wave

A wave that can only travel through matter.

Medium

A material in which a wave travels.

Transverse wave

A wave in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.

Longitudinal wave

A wave in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction the wave travels.

Sound wave

A longitudinal wave that can travel only through matter.

Amplitude

The maximum extent of the repeating quantity from equilibrium.

Loudness

How you perceive the energy of a sound wave.

Intensity

The amount of energy that passes through a square meter ($1\,m^2$) of space in one second ($1\,s$).

Wavelength

The distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point just like it.

Frequency

The number of times the pattern repeats in a given amount of time.

Pitch

The perception of how high or low a sound is related to the frequency of a sound wave.

Reflection

The bouncing of a wave off a surface.

Absorption

The transfer of energy from a wave to the medium through which it travels.

Transmission

The passage of a wave through a medium.

Diffraction

The change in direction of a wave when it travels by the edge of an object or through an opening.