Waves Lingo
Honors Physical Science

 
amplitude
rest position
compression
index of refraction
angle of reflection
optical axis
longitudinal/compressional wave
oscillation
rarefaction
overtone
angle of refraction
optical center
crest/trough
sound
concave
fundamental frequency
polarized
mirror
frequency
diffraction
convex
period
laser
lens
intensity/loudness/volume
electromagnetic radiation
 interference
electromagnetic spectrum
hologram
center of curvature
medium
opaque
beats
photon
virtual image
apex
transverse wave
reflection
resonance
pigment
real image
 
pitch
refraction
reverberation
light
focal point
 
wave
translucent
deciBel
angle of incidence
   
wavelength
transparent
Doppler shift
normal line
   

   From the list of words above, choose the one that corresponds to the definitions below.

1. For a wave, the maximum displacement from the rest position of the medium to either the crest or trough.    _________________________

2. Location on a transverse wave where the wave the amplitude is greatest.      _________________________

3. The unit of measure for sound intensity, abbreviated dB.  _________________________

4. The bending of a wave around a barrier or through a narrow slit. _________________________

5. A material (solid, liquid, gas, or a combination of these) through which a wave travels.      _________________________

6. Occurs when a wave strikes an object and bounces off.  _________________________

7. A tiny particle-like bundle of radiation.    _________________________

8. Term that refers to how high or low sound frequencies of sound appear to be. _________________________

9. The bending of a wave caused by a change in speed as it travels from one medium into other.     _________________________

10. Phenomenon that occurs when the frequency of forced vibrations on an object matches the object’s natural frequency producing a dramatic increase in amplitude.      _________________________

11. The ability of two or more waves to combine and form a new wave. _________________________

12. A rhythmic disturbance that carries energy through matter or space. _________________________

13. The distance between identical points on two adjacent waves; for example, the distance between two crests or two troughs.  ____________

14. A repeating to-and-fro motion about an equilibrium position.  _____________________

15. A wave in which the medium is displaced perpendicular to the direction of wave itself.  This wave is described by appearance of crests and troughs as in a water wave.     _________________________

16. A wave in which the medium is displaced parallel to the direction of travel of the wave itself.  This wave is described in appearance by its compressions and rarefactions.     _________________________

17. The echoing effect produced by multiple reflections of sound.  _________________

18. The time required for one complete wave (crest to crest) to pass a fixed point.       _______________________

19. The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time.       ________________________

20. The natural condition of the medium before and after a wave travels through it.       ______________________

21. A type of material that absorbs or reflects all light, and does not allow you to see through it.     ______________________

22. A type of material that allows lights to pass through it, and you can clearly see through it.     _____________________

23. A type of material that allows some light to pass through it, but you cannot see clearly through it.    ______________________

24. A material that absorbs specific colors and reflects others. It is defined by the colors it reflects. _________________________

25. Transverse waves that do not require a medium, and transfers energy by radiation.      _________________________

26. The unit of measure for frequency.     _________________________
 

27. The amount of energy in each wave; for sound waves, measured in decibels.      _________________________

28. The observed  increase or decrease in wave frequency, caused by motion of the sound source or receiver relative to each other. _________________________

29. Longitudinal waves caused by vibration of object. It is what you "hear".      _________________________

30. A multiple of the fundamental frequency of an object.    _________________________

31. The frequency at which an object naturally vibrates.     ______________________________

32. Common term for electromagnetic radiation.      _________________________

33. Part of a longitudinal wave in which the particles are spread apart. _________________________

34. Part of a longitudinal wave in which the particles are close together. _________________________

35. A mirror/lens where the surface curves outward.    ______________________________

36. A mirror/lens where the surface curves inward.    ____________________________

37. A three-dimensional image produced by laser light.   ____________________________

38. An image that appears to be behind the surface of a mirror.  ______________________________

39. An image that can be projected onto a screen.     _____________________________

40. The point where the optical axis intersects a curved mirror.  _________________________

41. An imaginary line that passes through the center of a curved mirror.  ______________________________

42. A piece of glass with a reflective coating on the front and/or the back.    _____________________________

43. A piece of transparent material that has two distinct surfaces, at least one is usually curved.      ____________________________

44. The point on the optical axis of a concave mirror or convex lens where light rays parallel to the optical axis come together.  __________________

45. An imaginary line drawn perpendicular to a reflecting surface or medium that light is entering.   _____________________

46. This is composed of all of the electromagnetic waves     ____________________________

47. Angle between a reflected ray and the normal to a surface.  ___________________________

48. Angle between the normal and the refracted ray after entering a different medium.    _____________________________

49. The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a given material.     _____________________________

50. A point on the optical axis which represents the radius of a full circle drawn with respect to the apex of a curved mirror.     _____________________

51. Light with all waves vibrating in the same plane.   _____________________________

52. Coherent light of only one frequency. Light Amplification through the Stimulation of  Emitted Radiation    __________________

53. The center of a lens.       __________________________

54. An alternating loud-soft pattern heard due to the interference of sound waves of different frequency. _______________________