Wave Properties

Front

What is a compressional wave?

Back

A type of wave where particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave's travel, creating areas of compression and rarefaction.

Front

What is rarefaction in a compressional wave?

Back

The area where particles are farther apart in a compressional wave.

Front

What is compression in a compressional wave?

Back

The area where particles are close together in a compressional wave.

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A type of wave where particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel, creating crests and troughs.

Front

What are the high points and low points in a transverse wave called?

Back

High points are called crests and low points are called troughs.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

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

Front

What is frequency?

Back

The number of waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Front

How is wave speed calculated?

Back

Wave speed is calculated by multiplying frequency by wavelength (Speed = Frequency x Wavelength).

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

The maximum distance that the particles of a medium move from their rest position when a wave passes through.

Front

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

Back

As frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa, for a given wave speed.