Waves

Front

Wave Noun

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[wayv]

Back

Wave

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A repeating disturbance or back-and-forth pattern of motion that transfers energy from one place to another.

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Example: A transverse wave diagram shows how energy moves through crests and troughs, illustrating wave properties like amplitude and wavelength.

Front

Energy Noun

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[en-er-jee]

Back

Energy

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The capacity to do work, which can be transferred or converted to different forms but not created or destroyed.

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Example: A battery powers a light bulb, showing energy transfer in a circuit.

Front

Pulse Noun

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[puhls]

Back

Pulse

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A single, short disturbance or burst of energy that travels through a medium or space as a wave.

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Example: A single pulse traveling through a medium as a wave, showing crest and trough.

Front

Oscillation Noun

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[os-uh-ley-shuhn]

Back

Oscillation

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A regular, repeating back-and-forth movement or vibration around a central point or equilibrium position.

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Example: A pendulum swinging back and forth demonstrates oscillation as it moves around a central point.

Front

Crest Noun

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[krest]

Back

Crest

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The point on a wave with the maximum value or upward displacement from the equilibrium position.

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Example: The crest is the highest point on a wave, shown here above the equilibrium line.

Front

Trough Noun

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[trof]

Back

Trough

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The point on a wave with the minimum value or downward displacement from the equilibrium position.

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Example: The image shows a wave with labeled parts, highlighting the trough as the lowest point, helping students understand wave properties.

Front

Amplitude Noun

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[am-pli-tood]

Back

Amplitude

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The maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a vibrating body or wave from its equilibrium position.

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Example: The image shows amplitude as the height from the equilibrium line to the crest of a wave.

Front

Wavelength Noun

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[weyv-lengkth]

Back

Wavelength

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The distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves, such as from one crest to the next crest.

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Example: The image shows the wavelength as the distance between two crests of a wave.

Front

Frequency Noun

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[free-kwuhn-see]

Back

Frequency

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The number of complete waves or oscillations that pass a given point in a specific amount of time.

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Example: A wave diagram showing fewer waves over time explains low frequency.

Front

Node Noun

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[nohd]

Back

Node

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A point along a standing wave where the wave has minimum amplitude, crossing its equilibrium or resting line.

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Example: The image shows nodes on a wave as points where the wave crosses the equilibrium line, indicating minimum amplitude.