Waves and Wave Properties - Introductory

Review this list and wave goodbye to any confusion you might have about waves. Learn about types of waves, wave properties like amplitude and frequency, and different kinds of wave motion, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction. You're sure to make waves once you master these words.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. amplitude
    the maximum displacement of a periodic wave
  2. compression
    the process of becoming smaller or pressed together
  3. crest
    the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
  4. diffraction
    process by which light changes passing through a narrow slit
  5. electric
    using or providing the flow of charge through a conductor
  6. electromagnetic
    pertaining to or exhibiting magnetism produced by electric charge in motion
  7. electromagnetic wave
    radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge
  8. emission
    the act of causing to flow forth
  9. energy
    any source of usable power
  10. frequency
    the number of occurrences within a given time period
  11. hertz
    unit of frequency with a periodic interval of one second
  12. intensity
    the amount of energy transmitted
  13. light
    electromagnetic radiation that can produce visual sensation
  14. loudness
    the magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction)
  15. magnetic
    of or relating to or caused by attraction for iron
  16. medium
    an intervening substance through which something is achieved
  17. peak
    the highest point of something
  18. pitch
    the high or low quality of a sound
  19. radiation
    energy transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles
  20. radio wave
    an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between 0.5 cm to 30,000 m
  21. reflection
    the phenomenon of a wave being thrown back from a surface
  22. refraction
    the change in direction of a propagating wave
  23. sound
    mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium
  24. sound wave
    (acoustics) a wave that transmits sound
  25. transverse
    extending or lying across, in a crosswise direction
  26. vacuum
    the absence of matter
  27. vibration
    (physics) a regular periodic variation in value about a mean
  28. wave
    (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
  29. wavelength
    distance between successive crests of a periodic disturbance
Created on Fri Feb 17 09:44:44 EST 2017 (updated Fri Mar 31 10:40:11 EDT 2017)

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