Sound Waves

Front

Vibration Noun

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[vy-bray-shun]

Back

Vibration

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A rapid back-and-forth movement of an object that is the source of all sound waves.

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Example: The image shows how vibrations create sound waves by compressing and rarefying air molecules.

Front

Mechanical Wave Noun

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[muh-kan-i-kuhl wayv]

Back

Mechanical Wave

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A wave that requires a medium, such as a solid, liquid, or gas, in order to travel.

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Example: The image shows a mechanical wave with compressions and rarefactions, demonstrating how it travels through a medium.

Front

Medium Noun

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[mee-dee-um]

Back

Medium

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The substance or material, such as air, water, or a solid, through which a wave can travel.

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Example: Air molecules compress and spread apart, showing how sound waves move through air.

Front

Longitudinal Wave Noun

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[lon-ji-too-di-nuhl wayv]

Back

Longitudinal Wave

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A wave where the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave's travel.

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Example: The image shows a spring being compressed and expanded, demonstrating how particles move parallel to the wave direction in a longitudinal wave.

Front

Compression Noun

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[kuhm-presh-un]

Back

Compression

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The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are pushed closely together.

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Example: Air molecules are shown closer together in the compression part of a sound wave.

Front

Rarefaction Noun

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[rair-uh-fak-shun]

Back

Rarefaction

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The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are spread far apart.

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Example: The image shows rarefaction in a sound wave where air molecules are spread apart.

Front

Reflection Noun

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[ri-flek-shun]

Back

Reflection

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The bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a surface or barrier that it cannot pass through.

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Example: Sound waves hit a surface and bounce back, showing reflection.

Front

Transmission Noun

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[tranz-mish-un]

Back

Transmission

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The process of a wave passing through a surface or barrier into a new medium.

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Example: Waves like infrared and visible light pass through a glass window, showing transmission.

Front

Absorption Noun

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[ab-sorp-shun]

Back

Absorption

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The process where a wave's energy is transferred to a material, often converting into thermal energy.

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Example: Arrows show wave energy being absorbed by a surface, illustrating how energy is transferred and converted.

Front

Diffraction Noun

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[dih-frak-shun]

Back

Diffraction

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The bending and spreading out of waves as they pass around an obstacle or through an opening.

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Example: Waves bend and spread out when passing through a small opening or around an obstacle.