Basic Wave Concepts

Front

Wave

Back

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.

Front

Frequency

Back

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time.

Front

Medium

Back

The substance or material that carries a wave.

Front

Wavelength

Back

The distance between successive crests of a wave.

Front

Amplitude

Back

The height of a wave's crest or depth of its trough.

Front

Transverse Wave

Back

A wave in which the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Front

Longitudinal Wave

Back

A wave in which the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave.

Front

Reflection

Back

The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface that it cannot pass through.

Front

Refraction

Back

The bending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle.