Sound and Waves Vocabulary

The bending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle.

• Reflection

• Refraction

• Diffraction

• Rarefaction

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

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

• Compression

• Rarefaction

• Crest

• Trough

A wave that appears to stay in one place and does not seem to move through a medium, due to a repeated pattern of interference.

• Transverse

• Longitudinal

• Surface

• Standing

The matter through which a wave travels.

• Ether

• Medium

• Electromagnetic Field

• Liquids and Gasses

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

A wave that is dependent upon a medium in order to travel.

• Medium Wave

• Transverse Wave

• Mechanical Wave

• Electromagnetic Wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

The distance from one crest to another (or one trough to another).

• Wavelength

• Frequency

• Amplitude

• Wave Speed

When two waves interfere in such a way that a the crests line up with the troughs and result in a wave with less amplitude.

• Standing Wave

• Constructive Interference

• Destructive Interference

• Transverse Wave

When two waves interfere in such a way that a crest becomes higher or a trough becomes lower (due to the two crests or troughs hitting the medium at the same time)

• Standing Wave

• Constructive Interference

• Destructive Interference

• Transverse Wave

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

A unit that compares the intensities of different sounds.

• Hertz

• Decibel

• Amps

• Pitch

How we perceive the frequency of a sound wave.

• Loudness

• Volume

• Color

• Pitch