Wave-a disturbance that travels through space and carries energy
Simple harmonic motion-the motion an object experiences when a restoring force is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium
Mechanical wave-a wave that needs a medium to travel
Electromagnetic wave-a wave that does not need a medium to travel
Transverse wave-a wave that travels perpendicular to the medium in which it is traveling
Longitudinal wave-a wave that travels parallel to the medium in which it is traveling
Crest-the highest part of the wave
Trough-the lowest part of the wave
Wavelength-the distance between two adjacent crests of a wave.
Frequency-the number of waves that pass a fixed point per unit time
Amplitude-the height of the wave
Period-the amount of time required for a point on a wave to complete one full cycle
Reflection-occurs when a wave strikes a barrier and bounces off
Refraction-occurs when a wave bends as it moves from one medium into another
Diffraction-occurs when a wave bends as it moves around a barrier or through a slit or edge
Constructive Interference-a superposition of two or more waves that results in the waves adding together to form the resultant wave
Destructive Interference-a superposition of two or more waves that result in the waves subtracting or cancelling to form the resultant wave
Standing waves-form when two waves of the same frequency, wavelength, and amplitude travel in opposite directions and interfere
Compression-the region of a longitudinal wave that is most dense
Rarefaction-the region of a longitudinal wave that is the least dense
Doppler Effect-the change in frequency of a wave as a source approaches or leaves an observer
Intensity-the rate at which energy flows through a unit area of the wave
Decibel-a dimensionless unit that describes the ratio of two intensities of sound
Pitch-a measure of how high or low a sound is perceived to be
Resonance-a phenomenon that occurs when the frequency of a force applied to a system matches the natural frequency of vibration of the system, resulting in a large amplitude of vibration
Fundamental frequency-the lowest frequency of vibration of a standing wave
Harmonic series-a series of frequencies that includes the fundamental frequency and integral multiples of the fundamental frequency
Beats-the periodic variation in the amplitude of a wave
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