Wave Vocabulary #1
Mechanical Wave - transferred through a medium
Medium – matter that waves goes through
Transverse - A type of wave where matter moves up and down (right angles) Water and light are
examples
Longitudinal Wave - A type of wave in which matter moves the same way as the wave: Sound is an
example: Think slinky!!
Crest – top of a wave
Wavelength – distance from crest to crest or trough to trough
Amplitude – the height of the wave from the resting line to the crest or trough
Trough – bottom of the wave
Frequency – how often a wave occurs
Rarefaction – The part of a longitudinal wave that the less dense-particles are father apart
Compression – part of a longitudinal wave that the more dense-particles are close together