Waves Vocabulary

Front

What is a wave?

Back

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy or information from one point to another, characterized by features such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.

Front

What is the difference between analog and digital signals?

Back

An analog signal is continuous and can take any value within a range, while a digital signal is discrete and represents information in binary form.

Front

What does it mean to transmit a wave?

Back

To transmit a wave means to pass it through a substance, allowing the wave to propagate from one location to another.

Front

What is reflection in the context of waves?

Back

Reflection is the process by which a wave changes direction when it encounters a barrier or a different medium.

Front

What is a baseline in wave terminology?

Back

The baseline is the horizontal line that represents the equilibrium position of a wave, situated halfway between the peak and trough.

Front

Define wavelength.

Back

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points in phase on a wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is frequency in relation to waves?

Back

Frequency is the number of complete wave cycles that pass a given point in one second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Front

Explain amplitude in wave terms.

Back

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from the baseline, indicating the wave's energy or intensity.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in wave theory?

Back

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another, caused by a change in its speed.