Types of Waves
This category of wave requires a medium (matter) to travel through.
What is a mechanical wave?
This is the highest point of a transverse wave.
What is the crest?
This term describes the maximum displacement of a wave from the rest (equilibrium) position.
What is amplitude?
This is the basic formula for wave speed.
What is speed = wavelength × frequency (v = λf)?
This is the formula for calculating density.
What is Density = Mass ÷ Volume (D = m/v)?
This category of wave does NOT require a medium and can travel through a vacuum.
What is an electromagnetic (EM) wave?
This is the lowest point of a transverse wave.
What is the trough?
This property of a wave is directly related to the energy the wave carries (bigger means more energy).
What is amplitude?
This is the SI unit for frequency.
What is Hertz (Hz)?
These are the most common SI units used to express the density of a solid.
What is grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³)?
In this type of mechanical wave, the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction the wave travels (like a rope)
What is a transverse wave?
This is the distance between one crest and the next crest (or any two identical, consecutive points).
What is wavelength?
On a transverse wave diagram, amplitude is measured from the rest line to this point.
What is the crest (or trough)?
This is the SI unit typically used for wavelength.
What is meters (m)?
These are the common units used to express the density of a liquid.
What is grams per milliliter (g/mL)?
In this type of mechanical wave, the particles vibrate parallel to the direction the wave travels, creating compressions and rarefactions (like sound).
What is a longitudinal wave?
In a longitudinal wave, this term describes the region where particles are pushed close together.
What is compression?
If you double the amplitude of a wave, this happens to the energy it carries (in general terms).
What is it increases (the wave carries more energy)?
If a wave has a wavelength of 2 meters and a frequency of 5 Hz, this is its speed.
What is 10 m/s?
A block has a mass of 20 grams and a volume of 4 cm³. What is its density?
What is 5 g/cm³?
This type of electromagnetic wave is the only one humans can actually see with their eyes.
What is visible light?
In a longitudinal wave, this term describes the region where particles are spread far apart.
What is rarefaction?
Amplitude does NOT affect this property. It is dependent on the product of wavelength and frequency instead, not the size of the wave.
What is the speed of the wave?
If a wave travels at 340 m/s and has a frequency of 170 Hz, this is its wavelength.
What is 2 meters?
A liquid has a density of 0.8 g/mL and a volume of 50 mL. This is its mass.
What is 40 grams?