Physics - Waves Vocab

Question 1

The cone shaped disturbance created by an object moving at supersonic speed through a fluid or medium.

Answer 1

Shock Wave

Question 1

The loud sound resulting from the incidence of a shock wave.

Answer 1

Sonic Boom

Question 2

The V shaped disturbance created by an object moving across a liquid surface at a speed greater than the wave speed.

Answer 2

Bow Wave

Question 3

The shift in received frequency due to motion of a vibrating source toward or away from a receiver.

Answer 3

Doppler Effect

Question 4

A stationary wave pattern formed in a medium when two sets of identical waves pass through the medium in opposite directions.

Answer 4

Standing waves

Question 5

The pattern formed by superposition of different sets of waves that produces reinforcement in some places and cancellation in others

Answer 5

Interference pattern

Question 6

A wave in which the medium vibrates in a direction parallel to the direction in which the wave travels.

Answer 6

Longitudinal Wave

Question 7

A wave in which the medium vibrates in direction perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels.

Answer 7

Transverse Wave

Question 8

The speed with which waves pass a particular point.

Answer 8

Wave speed

Question 9

The time in which a vibration is completed. Equals the 1/frequency of the wave.

Answer 9

Period

Question 10

The SI unit of frequency. On Hertz equals one vibration per second.

Answer 10

Hertz

Question 11

For a vibrating body or medium, the number of vibrations per unit time. For a wave, the number of crests that pass a particular point per unit of time.

Answer 11

Frequence

Question 12

The distance between successive crests, troughs, or identical parts of a wave.

Answer 12

Wavelength

Question 13

For a wave or vibration, the maximum displacement on either side of the equilibrium(midpoint) position.

Answer 13

Amplitude

Question 14

The waveform traced by simple harmonic motion, which can be made visible on a moving conveyor belt by a pendulum swinging at right angles above the moving belt.

Answer 14

Sine curve

Question 15

One of the places in a wave where the wave is the highest or the disturbance is the greatest in the opposite direction from a trough.

Answer 15

Crest

Question 16

One of the places in a wave where the wave is the lowest or the disturbance is greatest in the opposite direction from a crest.

Answer 16

Trough

Question 17

To cause a wave to move through a medium, to multiply, or to breed. To spread out and grow.

Answer 17

Propagation

Question 18

Phenomenon that occurs when the frequency of forced vibration s on a object matches the object’s natural frequency, producing a dramatic increase in amplitude.

Answer 18

Resonance

Question 19

Any part of a standing wave that remains stationary; a region of minimal or zero energy.

Answer 19

Nodes

Question 20

Any part of a standing wave with maximum displacement and maximum energy

Answer 20

Antinode

Question 21

The bouncing of a sound wave off of a dissimilar medium.

Answer 21

Reflection

Question 22

A change in the direction of waves as they pass from one medium to another due to a change in speed and wavelength of the wave.

Answer 22

Refraction

Question 23

Involves a change in direction of waves as they pass through an opening or around a barrier in their path. Higher the wavelength the more diffraction occurs.

Answer 23

Diffraction

Question 24

The interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude.

Answer 24

Construction interference

Question 25

The interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with a smaller amplitude.

Answer 25

Destructive interference

Question 26

A substance or material that carries a wave

Answer 26

Medium

Question 27

A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place through a medium.

Answer 27

Wave