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Physics LibreTexts

13.5: End of Chapter Key Terms

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Definition: Longitudinal and Transverse Waves
  • Wave: A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space, characterized by its wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
  • Longitudinal Wave: A wave in which the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation, such as sound waves in air.
  • Compression: The region in a longitudinal wave where particles are closest together.
  • Rarefaction: The region in a longitudinal wave where particles are furthest apart.
  • Transverse Wave: A wave in which the particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, such as waves on a string or electromagnetic waves.
  • Crest: The highest point of a wave in a transverse wave.
  • Trough: The lowest point of a wave in a transverse wave.
  • Wavelength: The distance between successive crests, troughs, compressions, or rarefactions in a wave.
  • Frequency: The number of waves that pass a given point per second measured in cycles per second, called Hertz (Hz).
  • Amplitude: The maximum displacement of particles from their rest position, indicating the wave's energy or intensity.
  • Period: The time it takes for one complete wave cycle to pass a given point, the inverse of frequency.
  • Wave Speed: The speed at which a wave travels through a medium, calculated as the product of wavelength and frequency.
  • Medium: The substance or material through which a wave travels.
  • Mechanical Wave: A wave that requires a medium to travel, such as sound waves or water waves.
  • Displacement: The distance and direction from the equilibrium position to a point on the wave.
  • Propagation: The movement or transmission of waves through a medium or space.
  • Wave Equation: A mathematical formula that describes the propagation of waves through a medium, often expressed as vwave = λf , where f is frequency, and λ is wavelength.

13.5: End of Chapter Key Terms is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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