Waves Vocab.

Front

Crest

Back

The top of a wave; sometimes called a 'peak'.

Front

Wavelength

Back

The distance between two high points (or low points) in a wave.

Front

Compression

Back

The part of the wave where the particles are close together.

Front

Medium

Back

A substance (like a solid, liquid, or gas) that the energy of a wave can travel through.

Front

Trough

Back

The area around the lowest point of a wave.

Front

Amplitude

Back

The maximum distance that the particles of a wave move from their resting position.

Front

Frequency

Back

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

Front

Rarefaction

Back

The part of the wave where the particles are spread apart.

Front

Transverse Wave

Back

A wave in which the particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Front

Longitudinal Wave

Back

A wave in which the particles move parallel to the direction of the wave.