Waves Vocabulary

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Wave

Back

A repeating disturbance or movement that transfers energy through matter or space.

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Energy

Back

The ability to cause change.

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Electromagnetic wave

Back

Waves created by vibrating electric charges, can travel through a vacuum or through matter, and have a wide variety of frequencies and wavelengths.

Front

Mechanical wave

Back

Waves that can only travel through matter; can be divided into transverse waves and compressional waves.

Front

Transverse wave

Back

Wave for which the matter in the medium moves back and forth at right angles to the direction the wave travels; has crests and troughs.

Front

Compressional wave

Back

Also called longitudinal waves, are waves in which the matter in the medium moves back and forth along the direction that the wave travels.

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Medium

Back

Matter in which a wave travels; it can be a solid, liquid or gas.

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Crest

Back

The highest points on a transverse wave.

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Trough

Back

The lowest points on a transverse wave.

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Rarefaction

Back

The least dense regions of a compressional (longitudinal) wave.