Waves Vocab Flashcard

Front

What is destructive interference?

Back

Destructive interference occurs when two identical waves arrive at the same point exactly out of phase, aligning crest to trough, resulting in a reduction or cancellation of the wave amplitude.

Front

What is a wave?

Back

A wave is a disturbance that moves from its source and carries energy through a medium.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

Wavelength is the distance between adjacent identical parts of a wave, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is reflection in the context of waves?

Back

Reflection is the change in direction of a wave when it encounters a boundary or a fixed end, causing it to bounce back.

Front

What is a medium in wave propagation?

Back

A medium is the solid, liquid, or gas material through which a wave propagates.

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position, indicating the wave's energy.

Front

What is frequency?

Back

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

Front

What is the period of a wave?

Back

The period is the time it takes for one complete wave cycle to pass a given point, inversely related to frequency.

Front

What is refraction?

Back

Refraction is the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another, caused by a change in its speed.

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

Diffraction is the spreading of waves when they encounter an obstacle or pass through an opening.