Wave vocabulary

Front

What is the trough?

Back

Lowest point of a wave.

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A wave in which the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Front

What is reflection in terms of waves?

Back

The bouncing back of a wave after striking a barrier.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

Distance from one wave crest to the next crest or from one trough to the next trough.

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

Distance between the midline and highest or lowest point of a wave.

Front

What is a longitudinal wave?

Back

A wave in which the disturbance moves in the same direction as the wave.

Front

What is frequency?

Back

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

Front

What is refraction?

Back

The bending of waves as they enter a new medium.

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

The spreading out of waves when they pass through a narrow opening or around obstacles.

Front

What is a wave crest?

Back

The highest point of a wave.