Wave Vocabulary

1. Waves require a medium (material) for energy transfer.

1. Mechanical Waves require a medium (material) for energy transfer.

2. A(n) waves causes the particles to vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the waves travel.

2. A(n) transverse waves causes the particles to vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the waves travel.

3. waves need no medium for travel.

3. Electromagnetic waves need no medium for travel.

4. The of a wave is the number of waves that pass a given point per second.

4. The frequency of a wave is the number of waves that pass a given point per second.

5. The of a wave is the reciprocal of its frequency.

5. The period of a wave is the reciprocal of its frequency.

6. The of a wave is the distance between corresponding points of consecutive waves.

6. The wavelength of a wave is the distance between corresponding points of consecutive waves.

7. The of a wave depends on the energy the wave is carrying.

7. The amplitude of a wave depends on the energy the wave is carrying.

8. is the process that occurs when two waves meet at a point.

8. Interference is the process that occurs when two waves meet at a point.

9. When waves pass from one medium to another, their does not change.

9. When waves pass from one medium to another, their frequency does not change.

10. The of a wave depends on the medium it is traveling in.

10. The velocity (speed) of a wave depends on the medium it is traveling in.

11. A wave is one that seems to be stationary.

11. A standing wave is one that seems to be stationary.

12. is the process which occurs when waves entering a new medium change direction because they have changed speed.

12. Refraction is the process which occurs when waves entering a new medium change direction because they have changed speed.

13. is the bending of waves around a barrier or through an opening.

13. Diffraction is the bending of waves around a barrier or through an opening.

14. When two identical wave trains traveling in opposite directions interact, the undisturbed areas in the medium are referred to as and the disturbed areas are referred to as .

14. When two identical wave trains traveling in opposite directions interact, the undisturbed areas in the medium are referred to as nodes and the disturbed areas are referred to as antinodes.

15. A line perpendicular to the boundary between two wave media is called a .

15. A line perpendicular to the boundary between two wave media is called a normal.

16. When waves are reflected, the angle of 16. When waves are reflected, the angle of equals the angle of reflection.

16. When waves are reflected, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

17. When a wave source is moving away from the detector, the. and 17. When a wave source is moving away from the detector, the and of the wave change, while the stays the same.

17. When a wave source is moving away from the detector, the frequency and wavelength of the wave change, while the velocity (speed) stays the same.