Waves and Wave Properties

Front

Crest Noun

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[krest]

Back

Crest

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The highest point of a wave, representing the maximum upward displacement from the equilibrium or rest position.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave, and the label 'crest' points to the highest point the wave reaches from its resting position.

Front

Trough Noun

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[trof]

Back

Trough

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The lowest point of a wave, representing the maximum downward displacement from the equilibrium or rest position.

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Example: This diagram of a wave shows that the trough is the lowest point the wave reaches from its resting position.

Front

Rest Position Noun

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[rest puh-zish-uhn]

Back

Rest Position

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The undisturbed, equilibrium position of the particles of a medium when no wave is passing through it.

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Example: The horizontal line labeled "Equilibrium" represents the rest position, which is the undisturbed level of the medium before the wave passes through it.

Front

Amplitude Noun

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[am-pli-tood]

Back

Amplitude

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The maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a vibrating body or wave from its equilibrium position.

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Example: This diagram shows amplitude as the maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a wave from its equilibrium position (the centerline).

Front

Wavelength (λ) Noun

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[weyv-length]

Back

Wavelength (λ)

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The distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves, such as the distance from one crest to the next.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave and marks the wavelength (λ) as the distance for one complete cycle, such as from the top of one crest to the next.

Front

Frequency (f) Noun

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[free-kwuhn-see]

Back

Frequency (f)

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The number of complete wave cycles that pass a fixed point in a specified amount of time.

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Example: This graph shows a wave with a low frequency, meaning few wave cycles pass by over a period of time (t).

Front

Hertz (Hz) Noun

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[hurts]

Back

Hertz (Hz)

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The standard SI unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second, used to measure wave frequency.

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Example: This diagram shows three waves over a one-second period. The top wave has 10 cycles (10 Hz), showing that Hertz measures frequency, or cycles per second.

Front

Period (T) Noun

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[peer-ee-uhd]

Back

Period (T)

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The time required for one complete cycle of vibration to pass a given point or for a full wavelength.

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Example: This diagram shows a pendulum swinging through one complete cycle. The period (T) is the amount of time it takes to complete this full back-and-forth motion.

Front

Wave Speed (v) Noun

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[weyv speed]

Back

Wave Speed (v)

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The speed at which a wave propagates through a medium, determined by the medium's properties and the wave's characteristics.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave and labels its speed (v = 1 m/s), illustrating how fast a point on the wave travels through a medium.

Front

Transverse wave Noun

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[trans-vurs weyv]

Back

Transverse wave

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A wave in which the particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

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Example: This diagram shows a transverse wave, labeling its key parts: the highest point (crest), lowest point (trough), distance for one cycle (wavelength), and height (amplitude).