Wave Notes Flashcards
Medium
The material that awave moves through.
Wave
An oscillation that moves from one place to another.
Transverse waves
Oscillates perpendicular to the direction that waves move
Longitudinal waves
Vibrate in the same direction the waves move.
Crest
The high point of a wave.
Trough
The low point of a wave.
Compression
Compressed portion, high point
Rarefaction
Stretched portion, low point
Wavelength
Crest to crest
Boundary
Where the conditions or the medium changes.
Reflection
When the wave bounces and goes into a new direction.
Refraction
The wave bends as it passes into and through an object.
Diffraction
The wave bends around or through holes in an object
Absorption
The wave is absorbed and disappears
Interference
When two or more oscillations/waves combine.
Constructive interference
When parts of two waves add together
Destructive interference
When parts of two waves cancel each other out
Standing waves
A wave that resonates in a confined space.
Nodes
Points for the medium does not move
Antinodes
Points in a standing wave that have the greatest amplitude (bumps)
Wavelength
Length of one cycle
Harmonics
Natural frequencies a medium oscillates at
Fundamental
Lowest natural frequency; first harmonic; one bump; one half Lamda
Damping
A gradual loss of amplitude of a wave