Waves Vocabulary

transverse wave

• a wave that requires a medium in which to travel

• a wave in which particle motion is perpendicular to wave motion; it has crests and troughs.

• a wave that consists of oscillating electromagnetic fields, radiating outward at the speed of light

• a wave in which particle motion is parallel to wave motion

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

amplitude

• a term that refers to the highest point of a wave

• a term that refers to the lowest point of a wave

• denser region of a longitudinal wave.

• the distance from the resting point to the crest of a wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

compression

• a term that refers to the highest point of a wave

• a term that refers to the lowest point of a wave

• denser region of a longitudinal wave.

• the distance from the resting point to the crest of a wave

frequency

• the distance between two crests or troughs of a wave

• the number of wavelengths that pass a point in a given amount of time

• the velocity of a wave

• the distance from the resting point to the crest of a wave

period

• the distance between two crests or troughs of a wave

• used in a declarative sentence

• the time required for one full wavelength of a wave to pass a certain point

• the distance from the resting point to the crest of a wave

wavelength

• the distance between two crests or troughs of a wave

• the number of wavelengths that pass a point in a given amount of time

• the velocity of a wave

• the distance from the resting point to the crest of a wave

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

reflection

• waves bounce off of objects when struck

• the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another at an angle

• two or more waves are our of sync with each other and results in a smaller wave or no wave at all.

• several waves are in the same location and they combine to produce a new single wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

refraction

• waves bounce off of objects when struck

• the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another at an angle

• several waves are in the same location and they combine to produce a new single wave

• the change in direction of a wave when it encounters an obstacle or edge

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

destructive interference

• waves bounce off of objects when struck

• the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another at an angle

• two or more waves are out of sync with each other and results in a smaller wave or no wave at all.

• several waves are in the same location and they combine to produce a new single wave

diffraction

• waves bounce off of objects when struck

• two or more waves are out of sync with each other and results in a smaller wave or no wave at all.

• several waves are in the same location and they combine to produce a new single wave

• the change in direction of a wave when it encounters an obstacle or edge