W Flashcards
Frequency
The number of cycles a wave completes in a period of time
Period
a length of time
Wave length
The distance between one high point and the next
Crest
The highest point of the wave
Trough
The lowest point of a wave
Medium
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave
Amplitude
height or “strength” of a wave
Longitudinal wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium move parallel to the direction of the wave
Electromagnetic
a metal object that acts as a magnet when an electric current moves through it
Spectrum
a range of electromagnetic frequencies; e.g. the light spectrum is the range of frequencies of visible light (related term
Transverse wave
a wave that occurs when the particles of a medium are displaced perpendicularly to the direction of the wave
Compression
occurs when rocks are squeezed by external forces directed toward one another to put stress on the rock, acting to decrease its volume
Rarefraction
Decrease of density in medium in a constitutional wave
Reflection
to strike a surface and bounce back in the opposite direction
Refraction
to bend light as it passes through a material
