Unit 7: Waves Vocabulary Quizs

seismic wave

• vibrations or waves of energy that travel through the Earth, often caused by earthquake

• a type of wave that only travels through water

• a sound wave produced by volcanic eruptions

• a type of electromagnetic wave used in communication

examples of mechanical waves

• light waves

• sound

• radio waves

• electromagnetic waves

amplitude

• measures how tall the wave is

• measures the frequency of the wave

• measures the speed of the wave

• measures the wavelength of the wave

oscillation

• a repeated movement or variation

• a sudden change in direction

• a steady state of rest

• a continuous linear motion

mechanical wave

• a wave that requires a medium to travel through

• a wave that can travel through a vacuum

• a wave that is produced by electromagnetic fields

• a wave that does not require any medium

trough

• the lowest point or dip on a wave

• the lowest point or dip on a wave

• the distance between two waves

• the speed of a wave

crest

• the highest point or peak of the wave

• the lowest point of a wave

• the distance between two waves

• the speed of a wave

wavelength

• the distance between the reoccurring peaks or compressions of a wave

• the speed at which a wave travels through a medium

• the amplitude of a wave measured from its rest position

• the frequency of a wave measured in hertz

rarefaction

• low pressure spread out area within a longitudinal wave

• high pressure concentrated area within a longitudinal wave

• a type of wave that travels through a vacuum

• the frequency of a wave in a medium

electromagnetic wave

• a wave that moves through empty space

• a sound wave traveling through air

• a wave that requires a medium to propagate

• a wave that is only visible to the human eye