Wave Vocabulary

Question 1

Wave

Answer 1

a disturbance caused by a vibration; Waves travel away from the source that makes them

Question 2

Medium

Answer 2

an agency or means of doing something.

Question 3

Mechanical Wave

Answer 3

A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium. While waves can move over long distances, the movement of the medium of transmission—the material—is limited. Therefore, oscillating material does not move far from its initial equilibrium position.

Question 4

Transverse Wave

Answer 4

a wave vibrating at right angles to the direction of its propagation.

Question 5

Longitudinal Wave

Answer 5

a wave vibrating in the direction of propagation.

Question 6

Trough

Answer 6

a long, narrow open container for animals to eat or drink out of.

Question 7

Amplitude

Answer 7

the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium.

Question 8

Crest

Answer 8

a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of a bird or other animal.
synonyms:

Question 9

Wave length

Answer 9

the distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.

Question 10

Frequency

Answer 10

the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample.

Question 11

Reflection

Answer 11

the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.

Question 12

Refraction

Answer 12

the fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc., being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.

Question 13

Diffraction

Answer 13

the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge, typically accompanied by interference between the wave forms produced.

Question 14

Interference

Answer 14

the action of interfering or the process of being interfered with.

Question 15

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Answer 15

the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.

Question 16

Radiation

Answer 16

the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.

Question 17

Electromagnetic wave

Answer 17

Definition of electromagnetic wave. : one of the waves that are propagated by simultaneous periodic variations of electric and magnetic field intensity and that include radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

Question 18

Radio waves

Answer 18

an electromagnetic wave of a frequency between about 104 and 1011 or 1012 Hz, as used for long-distance communication.

Question 19

Microwaves

Answer 19

an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength in the range 0.001–0.3 m, shorter than that of a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared radiation. Microwaves are used in radar, in communications, and for heating in microwave ovens and in various industrial processes.

Question 20

Infrared light

Answer 20

Infrared light is one type of light that is invisible to us. Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light, microwaves and radio waves are other types of invisible light. All of these rays and waves are the same type of electromagnetic energy.

Question 21

Ultraviolet Light

Answer 21

Ultraviolet light is a form of radiation which is not visible to the human eye. It’s in an invisible part of the “electromagnetic spectrum”. Radiated energy, or radiation, is given off by many objects: a light bulb, a crackling fire, and stars are some examples of objects which emit radiation.

Question 22

Gramma Rays

Answer 22

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum that consists of waves with the highest frequencies

Question 23

Transmission

Answer 23

The passage of waves through a medium

Question 24

Absorption

Answer 24

The disappearance of a wave into a medium the energy transferred by a wave is converted into another

Question 25

Scattering

Answer 25

an act of scattering something.

Question 26

Polarization

Answer 26

Polarization is a concept that comes from science, and it involves light, radiation, or magnetism moving in specific directions. Outside science, polarization usually refers to how people think, especially when two views emerge that drive people apart, kind of like two opposing magnets.

Question 27

Prism

Answer 27

a solid geometric figure whose two end faces are similar, equal, and parallel rectilinear figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.

Question 28

Primary Colors

Answer 28

any of a group of colors from which all other colors can be obtained by mixing.

Question 29

Primary pigment

Answer 29

The primary colors of pigment (also known as subtractive primaries) are used when producing colors from reflected light; for example, when mixing paint or using a color printer. The primary colors of pigment are magenta, yellow, and cyan (commonly simplified as red, yellow, and blue).