Science - 14.1 - Waves, Light & Sound - 2.23.2021

Front

What are P waves?

Back

P waves, or primary waves, are longitudinal seismic waves that compress and expand the material they travel through. They are the fastest seismic waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Front

What are S waves?

Back

S waves, or secondary waves, are transverse seismic waves that move the ground up and down or side to side. They are slower than P waves and can only travel through solids.

Front

What are surface waves?

Back

Surface waves are seismic waves that travel along the Earth's surface. They are slower than both P and S waves and can cause the most damage during an earthquake.

Front

What is frequency in terms of waves?

Back

Frequency is the number of wavelengths that pass a point each second. It is measured in hertz (Hz).

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

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

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position. It is related to the energy of the wave.

Front

What is reflection in wave behavior?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing of a wave off a surface, such as light reflecting off a mirror.

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it changes speed when moving from one medium to another.

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles or through openings, which causes the waves to spread out.

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A transverse wave is a wave in which the disturbance moves perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.