Wave Reflection Absorption and Transmittance MS-PS4-1

Amplitude

The energy in a wave. Amplitude. Amplitude is the height of a wave from its rest position and shows how strong or intense the wave is.

Energy absorption

The transfer of energy from a wave to an object, like sound energy when it hits a wall, is called energy absorption. Energy absorption is when an object takes in energy from waves, like a sponge soaking up water.

Frequency

The number of cycles or vibrations per second, measured in hertz Hz, is called frequency. Frequency tells us how often something repeats in a certain amount of time, like how many times a wave moves up and down in one second.

Interference

Occurs when two waves meet and combine to form a new wave. Interference. It's like two waves in the ocean meeting to create a bigger wave or cancel each other out.

Medium

The substance through which a wave can travel, like air, which carries sound waves, is called a medium. In simple terms, a medium is the material that waves move through.

Transverse wave

A wave that moves particles of matter at right angles to its direction of travel is called a transverse wave. Transverse waves move up and down while traveling forward, like how a snake moves across the ground.

Trough

The lowest part on a transverse wave is called the trough. In simple terms, a trough is the bottom point of a wave, like the dip between two crests.

Wave

A repeating disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space. Wave. A wave is a way energy moves from one place to another.

Wave crest

The highest point of a transverse wave. Wave crest. The wave crest is the top part of a wave where it reaches its maximum height.

Wavelength

The distance between the crests of two adjacent waves. Wavelength. Wavelength is the length between two high points crests of a wave.