Waves Unit Vocab

Front

Waves include sound, light, and water, but most require a ___________

Back

Medium

Front

Waves needing a medium to travel are _____________

Back

Mechanical

Front

High and low points on a transverse wave are called:

Back

crest and trough

Front

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy.

Back

True

Front

Waves moving particles parallel to wave direction are called:

Back

longitudinal waves.

Front

Distance between two wave parts is the wave’s

Back

wavelength.

Front

In transverse waves, particles move at right angles to wave direction.

Back

True

Front

In a longitudinal wave along a spring, areas where coils are closest are called _________________.

Back

compression

Front

In a longitudinal wave along a spring, areas where coils are farthest apart are called _____________.

Back

rarefactions

Front

Difference between longitudinal and transverse waves:

Back

Particles in longitudinal waves travel parallel to the wave; particles in transverse waves travel perpendicular.