Waves Vocabulary

Front

What is wave refraction?

Back

Wave refraction is the bending of waves as they meet variations in the coastline and seafloor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Front

What is wave height?

Back

Wave height is the vertical distance between the wave trough and the wave crest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Front

How can we measure wavelength?

Back

Wavelength can be measured by the distance from crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is the most common generating force of waves?

Back

The most common generating force of waves is wind.

Front

What is the most common restoring force of waves?

Back

The most common restoring force of waves is gravity.

Front

True or False: Waves transmit matter, not energy.

Back

False. Waves transmit energy, not matter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Front

What is amplitude in the context of waves?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum distance that the wave moves from its rest position.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Front

Define wavelength.

Back

Wavelength is the distance between successive crests or troughs of a wave.

Front

What is frequency in wave terminology?

Back

Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time, usually measured in Hertz (Hz).

Front

What happens to waves as they approach the shore?

Back

As waves approach the shore, they slow down, increase in height, and may break.