Light and Sound and Waves Vocab

Amplitude The distance from equilibrium of a wave to the crest or the trough.

Crest The highest point of a wave.

Wavelength The distance between identical points on adjacent waves.

Frequency The number of sound crests that pass through a distance in one second.

Diffraction The bending of waves around a barrier.

Interference The ability for two or more waves to combine and form a new wave.

Pitch The highness or lowness of a sound which is dependent upon the frequency of sound waves.

Doppler Effect An increase or decrease in wave frequency which is caused by motion of either the source or the motion of the observer.

Resonance The ability of an object to vibrate at the same frequency as another vibrating source.

Electromagnetic Spectrum The entire range of electromagnetic radiation which is classified by their wavelengths. Begins with radio waves and ends with gamma rays.

Conduction The transfer of energy from one source to another.

Radiation The transfer of energy in the form of waves that does not require matter.

Convection The movement of energy through a moving liquid or gas.

Mechanical Mixing Artificially combining two or more waves with one or more waves.

Decibel Scale Scale that measures the intensity of a sound.