Wave vocab flashcards

Front

Reflection

Back

The change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two different media so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated.

Front

Refraction

Back

The bending of a wave when it enters a medium where its speed is different.

Front

Diffraction

Back

The spreading of waves around obstacles and openings.

Front

Polarization

Back

The orientation of the oscillations in the plane perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel.

Front

Scattering

Back

The process by which small particles or droplets in the atmosphere deflect light in different directions.

Front

Constructive Interference

Back

When two waves meet in such a way that their crests line up together, resulting in a wave of increased amplitude.

Front

Destructive Interference

Back

When two waves meet in such a way that their crests and troughs cancel each other out, resulting in a wave of reduced or zero amplitude.

Front

Resonance

Back

The phenomenon that occurs when the frequency of a periodically applied force is in harmonic proportion to a natural frequency of the system on which it acts.

Front

Medium (of a wave)

Back

The substance or material that carries a wave.

Front

Propagation

Back

The movement and transmission of waves through a medium.