A repeated motion that passes energy from place to place.
Wave
Makes things move.
Energy
The material mechanical waves move through.
Medium
A back-and-forth or up-and-down motion.
Vibrations
A wave that needs a medium (such as air or water) to go through.
Mechanical Waves
A mechanical wave where the vibrating particles moves up and down, perpendicular to
the direction the wave is traveling.
Transverse Waves
A mechanical wave where the vibrating particles move back and forth, parallel to the
path of the wave.
Longitudinal Waves
The highest point of a wave.
Crest
The lowest point of a wave.
Trough
The greatest distance the particles of a medium move away from their rest positions as a wave passes.
Amplitude
The distance from the same spot on two neighboring waves. (crest to crest.)
Wavelength
The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time.
Frequency
The unit of frequency.
Hertz
The quality of a sound that depends on frequency.
Pitch
Waves that do not require a medium and can travel through empty space.
Electromagnetic Waves
Waves of energy that are released during an earthquake.
Seismic Waves
The movement of energy through a body of water.
Ocean Waves
The only part of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to your eye.
Visible Light
The highest energy wave of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Gamma Wave
The longest wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Radio Wave
