Science Vocabulary: Medium and Waves

Questions and Answers

What is a medium?

The distance from crest to crest

The matter through which a wave travels (correct)

The time required for one complete vibration

The bouncing back of a wave

What are mechanical waves?

Waves that require a medium

What do electromagnetic waves consist of?

Changing electric and magnetic fields in space

What are transverse waves?

Waves in which the motion of the particles is perpendicular to the motion of the wave Signup and view all the answers

What are longitudinal waves?

Waves that cause particles in a medium to vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion Signup and view all the answers

What are crests in a wave?

High points of a transverse wave Signup and view all the answers

What are troughs in a wave?

Low points of a transverse wave Signup and view all the answers

What is amplitude?

The greatest distance that particles are displaced from their normal resting positions Signup and view all the answers

What is wavelength?

Distance from crest to crest or trough to trough Signup and view all the answers

What is a period in wave motion?

The time required for one complete vibration of a particle in a medium Signup and view all the answers

What is frequency?

The number of wavelengths that pass a point in a given time interval Signup and view all the answers

What is the Doppler effect?

Change in the observed frequency of a wave Signup and view all the answers

What is reflection in wave motion?

The bouncing back of a wave when it meets a surface or boundary Signup and view all the answers

What is diffraction?

The bending of waves as they pass an edge Signup and view all the answers

What is refraction?

The bending of waves when they pass from one medium to another Signup and view all the answers

What is interference?

Several waves in the same location combine to make one Signup and view all the answers

What is constructive interference?

The result of a wave whose amplitude is the sum of the amplitudes of the two individual waves Signup and view all the answers

What is destructive interference?

The crest of one wave meets the trough of another wave, resulting in a smaller amplitude than the larger of the two waves Signup and view all the answers

What is a standing wave?

Results from interference between a wave and its reflected wave Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wave Concepts

Medium: The substance through which waves travel, essential for mechanical waves.
Mechanical Waves: Require a medium to propagate; examples include sound waves and water waves.
Electromagnetic Waves: Comprise varying electric and magnetic fields and can travel through a vacuum.

Types of Waves

Transverse Waves: Characterized by particle motion that is perpendicular to the wave's direction. Examples include waves on strings or water surfaces.
Longitudinal Waves: Feature particle motion that is parallel to the direction of wave propagation; sound waves are a prime example.

Wave Characteristics

Crest: The highest point on a transverse wave, indicating maximum energy.
Trough: The lowest point on a transverse wave, demonstrating the wave's minimum energy state.
Amplitude: Represents the maximum displacement of particles from their resting positions, indicative of wave energy.
Wavelength: The measurement between successive crests or troughs, crucial for wave identification and properties.
Period: The time it takes for one complete cycle of vibration in a medium; related to frequency and wavelength.
Frequency: The count of wavelengths that pass a fixed point over a designated time period; higher frequency indicates more energy.

Wave Behavior

Doppler Effect: Observed frequency changes when the source of waves moves relative to an observer, affecting sound and light waves.
Reflection: When waves encounter a surface and bounce back, important for various applications like sonar and optics.
Diffraction: Waves bend around obstacles and spread out after passing through narrow openings, influencing wave behavior in different environments.
Refraction: The bending of waves as they move from one medium to another, altering speed and direction.

Interference Patterns

Interference: Occurs when multiple waves overlap in the same space, creating resultant wave patterns.
Constructive Interference: Results when waves combine, amplifying the resultant wave's amplitude; occurs when crests align.
Destructive Interference: Occurs when a crest meets a trough of another wave, diminishing overall amplitude and energy.

Standing Waves

Standing Wave: A wave pattern formed by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions, resulting in fixed nodes and antinodes.

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Description

Test your understanding of key science vocabulary related to wave mechanics. This quiz covers definitions and concepts like medium, mechanical waves, and electromagnetic waves. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their grasp on physics terminology.