Mechanical and Sound Waves

Welcome to the 21st Century electronic science classroom brought to you by ProProfs Learning Systems and Mitchell's Cosmic Adventure, science website. This batch of flashcards contains vocabulary term for the following concepts: (1) Mechanical Waves; (2) Properties of Mechanical Waves; (3) Wave Behavior; and (4) Properties of sound waves.    Attention students!!!! ProProfs has included a quiz using the flashcards!  GOOD LUCK!

59 cards   |   Total Attempts: 188
  

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Cards In This Set

Front Back
Mechanical wave
Answer 1
Is a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium.
Medium
A substance that makes possible the transfer of energy from one location to another, especially through waves. Solids, liquids, and gases all can act as mediums.
Transverse Wave
Answer 3
Is a wave that causes the medium to vibrate at right angles to the direction (propagation) in which the wave travels.
Crest (peak)
Answer 4
Is the highest point the medium rises to from the rest position.
Trough (valley)
Answer 5
Is the lowest point the medium below the rest position.
Rest position
Is a line drawn through the center of the diagram represents the equilibrium or rest position of the wave (string). This is the position that the wave would assume if there were no disturbance moving through it.
Longitudinal waves
Answer 7
That oscillates back and forth on an axis that is the same as the axis along which the wave propagates. Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
Compression
Answer 8
An area where the particles in a medium are spaced close together.
Rarefaction
Answer 9
Is an area where the particles in a medium are spread out.
Standing (stationary) Wave
Answer 10
– also known as a stationary wave – is a wave in a medium in which each point on the axis of the wave has an associated constant amplitude.
Surface Wave
Answer 11
Is a wave in which particles of the medium undergo a circular motion. Surface waves are neither longitudinal nor transverse. Ocean and seismic waves are such examples of a surface wave.
Periodic Motion
Is any motion repeated in equal intervals of time. Periodic motion is performed, for example, by a rocking chair, a bouncing ball, or a vibrating tuning fork.
Period
Is the time needed for one complete cycle of vibration to pass a given point.
Periodic Wave
Answer 14
Is a continually oscillating motion. There is a close connection between simple harmonic motion and periodic waves
Frequency
The number of crests of a wave that move past a given point in a given unit of time. The most common unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz)