Modeling Waves through Various Mediums

Front

Wave Noun

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[wayv]

Back

Wave

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A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space from one location to another without transferring matter.

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Example: The image shows a transverse wave with labeled parts like crest and trough, explaining how energy moves without matter.

Front

Source Noun

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[sorss]

Back

Source

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The point of origin where a force creates a vibration, initiating the propagation of a wave.

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Example: A speaker creates vibrations that move air molecules, showing how sound waves start and travel.

Front

Vibration Noun

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[vy-bray-shun]

Back

Vibration

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A rapid, continuous back-and-forth or oscillating movement of an object that can generate a wave.

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Example: A hand moves a spring back and forth, showing how vibration creates waves.

Front

Medium Noun

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[mee-dee-um]

Back

Medium

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A substance or material, such as a solid, liquid, or gas, through which a wave can travel.

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Example: Sound waves travel through air, showing how air acts as a medium with areas of compression and rarefaction.

Front

Energy Noun

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[en-er-jee]

Back

Energy

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The capacity to do work or cause change, which is transferred from place to place by waves.

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Example: Energy flows from the battery through the circuit to light the bulb, demonstrating energy transfer.

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 physical medium, like a solid, liquid, or gas, to propagate its energy.

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Example: Sound waves move through air, showing how mechanical waves need a medium.

Front

Electromagnetic Wave Noun

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[ih-lek-troh-mag-net-ik wayv]

Back

Electromagnetic Wave

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A wave consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that can travel through a vacuum without a medium.

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Example: Sun's radiation as electromagnetic waves traveling through space to Earth.

Front

Transverse Wave Noun

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[trans-vurs wayv]

Back

Transverse Wave

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A wave where the medium's particles vibrate at right angles to the direction the wave's energy is traveling.

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Example: The image shows a transverse wave with labeled parts, illustrating how particles move perpendicular to wave energy direction.

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 medium's particles vibrate in the same direction as the wave's energy is traveling.

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Example: The image shows a longitudinal wave with areas of compression and rarefaction, helping to visualize particle movement in the wave's direction.

Front

Crest Noun

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[krest]

Back

Crest

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The point on a transverse wave that exhibits the maximum amount of positive or upward displacement from equilibrium.

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Example: The crest is the highest point on a wave, shown here as the peak of the curve.