Vocabulary
Any disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.
Wave
A wave that moves along the surface of the medium, often between two media. Include ocean waves and seismic waves.
surface wave
The highest point or peak of the wave,
crest
Draw a picture that shows potential energy
Examples: low waves, high waves, long waves, short waves.
qualitative descriptions
Vibrating electric and magnetic fields that move through space at the speed of light and do not require a medium.
electromagnetic waves
Include transverse and longitudinal waves
mechanical waves
The lowest point or valley of a transverse wave
trough
Draw a low energy wave and a high energy wave. Label each wave as high or low.
Example: the amplitude of this wave is twice th amplitude of the second wave.
quantitative descriptions
mechanical wave
transverse wave
A region in a longitudinal wave (such as sound) where the particles of the medium are closest together
compression
Draw a longitudinal wave and label two compressions, a rarefaction, and the wavelength.
It should be a wave that moves side to side, with particles bunched up for compression and spread out for rarefaction. Wavelength is the distance from one compression to another compression.
Which words in the following sentences are qualitative?
This is a transverse wave. It has a low amplitude and a long wavelength.
transvers, low, and long.
The distance between the resting position and a crest or trough.
Amplitude
A wave that travels in the same direction as the vibration that produced it.
longitudinal wave
It is the phase where particles of the medium are spread furthest apart.
rarefaction
Draw a transverse wave. Label the resting point, crests and the troughs, the wavelength, and the amplitude.
Should be a wave that moves up and down. Crests should be the high points of the wave and the trough should be the low point of the wave. Amplitude should be labeled from the resting point to a crest or trough, and wavelength should be from crest to crest or trough to trough.
The wave's amplitude decreased by half, which means its energy decreased. However, the wavelength of both waves is four.
half, four
The distance between a crest and crest, compression and a compression or trough and a trough.
wavelength
Include radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, gamma rays, ultraviolet rays, and visible light.
electromagnetic wave
The number of complete cycles, vibrations, or crests that pass a fixed point per unit of time, typically measured in Hertz
frequency
The radio wave should have a much larger wavelength than the ultraviolet wave.
Identify the qualitative and quantitative words in the following sentences. Label them.
This is a longitudinal wave. It has a low amplitude and short wavelength. A wave's energy is proportional to the square of its amplitude.
Qualitative: longitudinal. low, long
Quantitative: square, proportional