Waves Vocabulary

Front

What is Destructive Interference?

Back

Destructive Interference occurs when two waves meet and combine to produce a wave of lesser amplitude, effectively canceling each other out.

Front

What is Amplitude?

Back

Amplitude is the height of the wave from the equilibrium position to the crest or trough, indicating the energy of the wave.

Front

What is Diffraction?

Back

Diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles and openings, which causes waves to spread out after passing through a narrow aperture.

Front

What is Wavelength?

Back

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is Frequency?

Back

Frequency is the number of complete waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Front

What is Reflection in waves?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier, changing its direction but not its speed.

Front

What is the Doppler Effect?

Back

The Doppler Effect is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.

Front

What is Constructive Interference?

Back

Constructive Interference occurs when two waves meet and combine to produce a wave of greater amplitude, reinforcing each other.

Front

What is a Crest?

Back

A Crest is the highest point of a wave, representing the maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position.

Front

What is a Trough?

Back

A Trough is the lowest point of a wave, representing the minimum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position.