Unit 3 Vocabulary

Front

What is a longitudinal wave?

Back

A longitudinal wave is a type of wave in which particles move back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels, or parallel to the wave.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Front

What is a mechanical wave?

Back

A mechanical wave is a wave that requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) through which to travel.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What happens during absorption of a wave?

Back

Absorption occurs when a wave enters the surface of an object and transfers its energy to that object.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is a medium in the context of waves?

Back

The medium is the material through which a wave travels.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is the wave period?

Back

The wave period is the time it takes for one full cycle of the wave to pass a given point.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A transverse wave is a type of wave in which particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Front

What is the difference between a mechanical wave and an electromagnetic wave?

Back

A mechanical wave requires a medium to travel through, while an electromagnetic wave can travel through a vacuum.

Front

What is reflection in terms of wave behavior?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface that it cannot pass through.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another, changing its speed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1