Waves Fast & Curious

Front

Transfer of energy from a wave to a medium

Back

Absorption: The process by which a wave's energy is taken up by the medium it travels through.

Front

The bending of a wave caused by a change in its speed as it travels from one medium to another

Back

Refraction: The change in direction of a wave when it enters a medium at an angle and its speed changes.

Front

Material that transmits and scatters light so that objects viewed through it appear blurry

Back

Translucent: A type of material that allows light to pass through but scatters it, making objects behind it appear unclear.

Front

A wave that can only travel through matter?

Back

Mechanical Waves: Waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.

Front

The measure of the size of the disturbance of a wave, related to the energy that it carries

Back

Amplitude: The maximum extent of a wave's disturbance from its rest position, indicating the energy of the wave.

Front

The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs in a wave

Back

Wavelength: The length of one complete wave cycle, measured from crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

The number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time

Back

Frequency: The rate at which waves pass a point, measured in hertz (Hz).

Front

The speed at which a wave travels through a medium

Back

Wave Speed: The distance a wave travels per unit of time, calculated as frequency multiplied by wavelength.

Front

The interaction of waves when they meet, resulting in a new wave pattern

Back

Interference: The phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves overlap, leading to constructive or destructive interference.

Front

The spreading out of waves as they pass through an opening or around obstacles

Back

Diffraction: The bending and spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or pass through a narrow opening.