| A | B |
|---|
| wave | disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another |
| medium | any substance that a wave moves through. A form of matter that a wave moves through |
| mechanical wave | wave that transfers energy through a medium ( which is matter) |
| transverse wave | the wave travels in a direction that is at right angles to the direction of the disturbance |
| longitudinal (compressional) wave | a wave that travels parallel to the matter it is disturbing and which has areas of compression and rarefaction. |
| trough | lowest part of a wave |
| amplitude of a transverse wave | distance from the middle or rest point of the wave to the crest or from the middle to the trough (Part B) |
| wavelength | The distance from one wave crest to the next or one wave trough to the next. (Part D) |
| frequency | number of waves that pass a fixed point in a certain amount of time |
| wave speed formula | wavelength x frequency |
| reflection | bouncing back of a wave after it strikes a barrier |
| refraction | bending of a wave as it enters a new medium at an angle other than 90 degrees |
| diffraction | spreading out of waves through an opening or around the edge of an obstacle |
| interference | the meeting and combining of waves. Constructive interference increases amplitude |
| crest | the highest point of a wave |
| opaque | reflecting or absorbing all the light that strikes it. |
| transparent | allowing light to pass through easily without scattering |
| translucent | permitting some light to pass through with scattering |
| focal point | the point where an image forms clearly when light is reflected or refracted by a mirror or lens. |
| convex | a mirror or lens that is curving or bulging outward. |
| concave | a mirror or lens that is curving inward. |
| electromagnetic spectrum | All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from long period radio to short period gamma waves. Electromagnetic waves can travel through space and do not need a medium. All EM waves travel at the speed of light. |
