Waves

• Wave


  A disturbance or back and forth motion
• Transverse waves


  • Cause the medium to move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation
• Longitudinal waves


  • Cause the medium to move parallel to the direction of wave propagation
• Wave propagation

  1. Low pressure creates rarefaction

  2. High pressure creates compression
• Mechanical waves


  Require a medium to transfer energy
• Electromagnetic waves


  Do not require a medium to transfer energy
• Amplitude

  The maximum displacement of a wave from its rest position
• Crest


  The highest point of a wave
• Rest position


  The position of the medium when the wave is not present
• Trough


  The lowest point of a wave
• Sound


  Produced by vibrations
• Echolocation


  Used by animals to locate their prey
• Infrasonic


  Low frequency sound
• Ultrasonic


  Sound above 20kHz
• Loudness


  How loud or soft a sound is
• Pitch


  The highness or lowness of a sound
• Quality


  The distinguishable features of a wave
• Light


  A form of energy that travels
• Kinetic energy


  Energy in motion
• Thermal energy


  Energy possessed within an object due to movement
• Heat


  Transfer of thermal energy
• Temperature


  Measure of hotness or coldness
• Wave


  Disturbance that travels back and forth
• Transverse waves


  • Cause the medium to move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation
• Longitudinal waves


  • Cause the medium to move parallel to the direction of wave propagation
• Rarefaction


  Low pressure waves
• Compression


  High pressure particles
• Mechanical waves


  • Require a medium to transfer energy
• Electromagnetic waves


  • Do not require a medium to transfer energy
• Amplitude


  Maximum displacement from the rest position
• Crest


  The highest point of a wave
• Trough


  The lowest point of a wave
• Sound


  Produced by vibrations
• Echolocation


  Used by animals to locate their prey
• Frequency


  The number of wave cycles that pass a given point per unit of time
• Infrasonic


  Frequencies below 20 Hz
• Ultrasonic


  Frequencies above 20 kHz
• Loudness


  How loud or soft a sound is
• Pitch


  The highness or lowness of a sound
• Quality


  The distinguishable features of a sound