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Waves
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Wave | A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place. |
Amplitude | The maximum distance that the particles of a medium move from the rest position. |
Wavelength | The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave. |
Seismic Waves | Waves produced by earthquakes. |
Frequency | Speed divided by wavelength. |
Constructive Interference | When two waves combine to make a larger amplitude. |
Destructive Interference | When two waves combine to make a smaller amplitude. |
Mechanical Waves | Waves that require a medium to travel through. |
Longitudinal Waves | Waves that move the particles of the medium parallel to the direction in which the waves are traveling. |
Crest | The highest part of a transverse wave. |
Trough | The lowest part of a transverse wave. |
Diffraction | The bending of waves around a barrier. |
Law of Reflection | The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. |
Refraction | The bending of waves due to a change in speed. |
Rarefaction | The part of a longitudinal wave where the coils are farthest apart. |
Primary Waves | A longitudinal seismic wave. |
Secondary Waves | A transverse seismic wave. |