Energy and Waves

Front

Energy

Back

Ability to cause changes in matter

Front

Wave

Back

A disturbance or vibration of a medium that moves through the medium

Front

Electromagnetic Wave

Back

Transverse wave consisting of vibrating electric and magnetic fields that can travel across space; doesn't need a medium to travel

Front

Mechanical Wave

Back

A disturbance in matter that transfers energy from place to place; starts when matter is disturbed; needs a medium to travel

Front

Medium

Back

Materials through which a wave travels

Front

Longitudinal Wave

Back

Wave in which particles of the medium vibrate in the same direction that the wave travels

Front

Compression

Back

The densest part of a longitudinal wave; force that tends to shorten or squeeze something, decreasing its volume

Front

Rarefaction

Back

The part of a longitudinal wave that is more spread out; a decrease in density and pressure in a medium

Front

Transverse Wave

Back

Wave in which particles of the medium vibrate at right angles to the direction that the wave travels

Front

Trough

Back

The lowest point of a transverse wave