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Properties of Waves
Indicators 8.P.3A1 & 2
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Wave | A repeating disturbance or vibration that transfers or moves energy from place to place. |
Vibration | A repeated back and forth or up and down movement |
Medium | A material through which waves can travel . Can be a solid, liquid or gas. |
Mechanical Waves | Waves that require a medium. |
Transverse Waves | Waves vibrate through a medium at right angles (perpendicular) Ex. electromagnetic waves |
Longitudinal Waves | Waves that vibrate through a medium in the same direction (parallel). Also known as compressional waves. Ex: Sound waves |
Compression | Place on a wave that is pushed together. |
Rarefaction | Place on a wave that is apart. |
Frequency | Measure of how many waves pass a point in a certain amount of time. |
Amplitude | Measure of the distance between the line through the middle of the wave and the crest or trough. |
Wavelength | A measure of the distance from the crest on a wave to the crest of the very next wave. |
Vacuum | Empty space |
Electromagnetic Waves | A wave that transfers energy through a vacuum as well as through matter. Examples: Radio waves, light waves, x-rays |