| A | B |
|---|
| wave | a disturbance involving the transfer of energy from place to place |
| medium | the material through which a wave travels |
| mechanical wave | wave that requires a medium to travel through |
| transverse wave | a wave that vibrates a medium perpendicular to the direction of travel |
| crest | the high point of a transverse wave |
| trough | the low point of a transverse wave |
| longitudinal wave | a wave that vibrates a medium in the same direction it travels |
| compression | an area of high density in a longitudinal wave |
| rarefaction | an area of low density in a longitudinal wave |
| amplitude | the maximum distance of wave vibrates from the rest position |
| wavelength | the length of a wave |
| frequency | the number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time |
| hertz | a unit that measures frequency |
| reflection | a wave bouncing off a surface |
| refraction | the bending of waves due to a change in speed |
| diffraction | waves spreading out as they move around a barrier |
| constructive interference | waves combine to form a larger amplitude |
| destructive interference | waves combine to form a smaller amplitude |
| standing wave | an incoming and reflective wave that combine to appear to stand still |
| resonance | an increase in amplitude of a wave when external vibrations match its natural frequency |
