Wave Vocab

Front

Disturbance that transfers energy from place to place

Back

wave

Front

Energy that moves through space:

Back

electromagnetic waves

Front

Waves requiring a medium to travel

Back

Mechanical waves

Front

Material through which a wave travels (solid, liquid, gas)

Back

medium

Front

A wave that moves the medium perpendicular to its travel direction.

Back

transverse

Front

Highest point of a wave

Back

Crest

Front

Lowest point of a wave

Back

trough

Front

Region in a longitudinal wave where particles are closest together

Back

compression

Front

Part of a longitudinal wave where particles are spread apart

Back

rarefaction

Front

Height of a wave's crest

Back

Amplitude