Wave Concepts

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Wave

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A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.

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Mechanical Wave

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A type of wave that requires a medium (such as water, air, or solids) to travel through. Examples include sound waves and water waves.

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Medium

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The material (solid, liquid, or gas) through which a mechanical wave travels.

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Electromagnetic Radiation

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Waves that do not require a medium to travel; they can move through the vacuum of space. Examples include light, radio waves, and X-rays.

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Transverse Wave

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A type of wave where the particles of the medium move perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of the wave’s travel. An example is a light wave.

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Amplitude

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The height of a wave from its resting position (middle point) to the top of a crest or the bottom of a trough. It indicates the wave's energy level.

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Longitudinal Wave

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A wave in which particles of the medium move in the same direction as the wave. An example is a sound wave.

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Wavelength

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The distance between two corresponding points on consecutive waves, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough.

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Frequency

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The number of complete waves, or cycles, that pass a given point in a set amount of time, usually measured in hertz (Hz).