Waves Vocab

Front

Wave

Back

A repeating disturbance or vibration that transfers energy from one place to another.

Front

Medium

Back

The material through which a wave travels.

Front

Mechanical Wave

Back

A wave that needs a medium (like air, water, or a solid) to travel through.

Front

Electromagnetic Wave

Back

A wave that can travel through empty space and does not need a medium.

Front

Frequency

Back

The number of wave cycles that pass a point in one second.

Front

Wavelength

Back

The distance from one wave crest to the next crest (or one trough to the next).

Front

Amplitude

Back

The height of a wave from the rest position, related to the wave’s energy.

Front

Doppler Effect

Back

The change in pitch of a sound as the source moves toward or away from you.