Wave Properties Review

Front

What is a mechanical wave?

Back

A mechanical wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) and requires a medium to propagate.

Front

How do mechanical waves travel in relation to the source?

Back

Mechanical waves travel away from the source of the wave.

Front

What are the two main types of mechanical waves?

Back

The two main types of mechanical waves are longitudinal waves and transverse waves.

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A transverse wave is a wave in which the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.

Front

What is a longitudinal wave?

Back

A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave's travel.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

Wavelength is 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 amplitude?

Back

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

Front

What is rarefaction in a wave?

Back

Rarefaction is the region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are spread apart, resulting in lower pressure.

Front

What is compression in a wave?

Back

Compression is the region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are close together, resulting in higher pressure.

Front

How does energy relate to amplitude in waves?

Back

The higher the amplitude of a wave, the more energy it carries.