Properties of Waves

Front

Wave Noun

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[wayv]

Back

Wave

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A disturbance that travels through a medium, transporting energy from one location to another without transporting matter.

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Example: This diagram shows a transverse wave, labeling its key properties: the highest point (crest), lowest point (trough), height from equilibrium (amplitude), and crest-to-crest distance (wavelength).

Front

Mechanical Wave Noun

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[muh-kan-i-kuhl wayv]

Back

Mechanical Wave

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A wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore requires a medium to transfer its energy.

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Example: A hand moving a spring up and down creates a mechanical wave, which transfers energy through the spring as 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 of synchronized oscillations of electric and magnetic fields that does not require a medium to travel.

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Example: An electromagnetic wave is made of vibrating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other and to the direction the wave travels.

Front

Surface Wave Noun

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[sur-fis wayv]

Back

Surface Wave

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A mechanical wave in which particles of the medium undergo a circular motion at the interface of two media.

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Example: A vibrating bar creates a disturbance on the water's surface, generating waves that travel outward, demonstrating how surface waves are formed and propagate.

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 the rest position.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave and labels its highest point as the 'crest'.

Front

Trough Noun

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[trof]

Back

Trough

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The point on a transverse wave that exhibits the maximum amount of negative or downward displacement from the rest position.

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Example: This diagram shows a wave, and the label 'Trough' points to the lowest point of the wave's oscillation.

Front

Compression Noun

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[kuhm-presh-uhn]

Back

Compression

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The region in a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are closest together, corresponding to high pressure.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave where particles are bunched together in an area of high pressure, which is called a compression.

Front

Rarefaction Noun

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[rair-uh-fak-shuhn]

Back

Rarefaction

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The region in a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are farthest apart, corresponding to low pressure.

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Example: This diagram shows a longitudinal wave. A rarefaction is the region where the particles (dots) are spread farthest apart, in contrast to a compression.

Front

Equilibrium Noun

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[ee-kwuh-lib-ree-uhm]

Back

Equilibrium

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The natural state or rest position of the medium's particles before a wave disturbance passes through it.

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Example: A wave oscillates around a central resting line, which is called the equilibrium position.

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 wave measured from its equilibrium position.

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Example: This diagram shows that a wave's amplitude is its maximum height measured from the center line (equilibrium position) to its highest point (crest).