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14MA5WavesSoundLight
Term | Definition |
---|---|
crest | highest point in a mechanical wave |
trough | lowest point in a mechanical wave |
resting point | center of a mechanical wave- half way between the crest and trough |
rarefaction | center of a mechanical wave- half way between the crest and trough |
compression | in a longitudinal wave where the particles are CLOSE to each other (equivilent to the crest of a transverse wave) |
reflection | wave interaction; when a wave bounces off something |
refraction | wave interaction; when a wave bends when it enters a new medium |
diffraction | wave interaction; when a wave goes around a corner or an obstacle |
interference | wave interaction; when 2+ waves are in the same place at the same time- it can be constructive (bigger resulting wave) or destructive (smaller resulting wave) depending on what parts are at the same place at the same time |
amplitude | wave measurement; distance from the resting point to the crest (size of the wave) |
wavelength | wave measurement; distance between 2 waves- from the same part of adjoining waves, EX: crest to crest |
pitch | measurement; how high or low the sound is; depends on frequency and energy level |
frequency | measurement; how many waves pass a given point in a second- higher frequency is higher energy |