Properties of Waves

Front

What is a wave?

Back

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

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Front

What is amplitude in a wave?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum distance that points on a wave, such as the crest or trough, move from their rest position.

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NGSS.MS-PS4-1

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.

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NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Front

What is frequency?

Back

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

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NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Front

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

Back

Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional; as one increases, the other decreases.

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NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Front

What happens to the energy of a wave as it moves away from its source?

Back

The energy of the wave decreases as it spreads out over a larger area.

Front

What is a sound wave?

Back

A sound wave is a type of mechanical wave that travels through a medium (like air, water, or solids) and is caused by vibrating objects.

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NGSS.HS-PS4-1

NGSS.HS-PS4-5

Front

What is the speed of a wave?

Back

The speed of a wave is the distance traveled by a wave in a given amount of time, calculated as speed = wavelength × frequency.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

Front

What is a crest in a wave?

Back

A crest is the highest point of a wave.

Front

What is a trough in a wave?

Back

A trough is the lowest point of a wave.