Waves

Question 1

A substance through which a wave moves.

Answer 1

Medium

Question 2

A wave such as a sound wave or a seismic wave, that transfers kinetic energy through matter.

Answer 2

Mechanical wave

Question 3

A type of wave in which a disturbance moves at right angles, or perpendicular, to the direction in which the wave travels.

Answer 3

Transverse wave

Question 4

A type of wave in which the disturbance moves in the same direction that the wave travels.

Answer 4

Longitudinal wave

Question 5

The highest point, or peak, of a wave.

Answer 5

Crest

Question 6

The lowest point, or valley, of a wave.

Answer 6

Trough

Question 7

The maximum distance that a disturbance causes a medium to move from its rest position; the distance between the crest or trough of a wave and line through the center of a wave.

Answer 7

Amplitude

Question 8

The distance from one wave peak or crest to the next peak or crest. Can be measured as the distance from any part of one wave to the identical part of the next wave.

Answer 8

Wavelength

Question 9

The number of wave lengths (or wave crests) that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time, usually one second.

Answer 9

Frequency

Question 10

The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier.

Answer 10

Reflection

Question 11

The bending of a wave as it crosses a boundary between two mediums at an angle other than 90 degrees.

Answer 11

Refraction

Question 12

The speeding out of waves as they pass through an opening or around the edges of an optical.

Answer 12

Diffraction

Question 13

The meeting and combining of waves; the adding or subtracting of wave amplitude that occurs as waves overlap.

Answer 13

Interference

Question 14

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without requiring matter to move the entire distance.

Answer 14

Wave