3. Summary and Vocabulary

Summary

  • Wave speed is the distance a wave travels in a given amount of time, such as the number of meters it travels per second.
  • The speed of most waves depends on the medium, or the matter through which they are traveling. Generally, waves travel fastest through solids and slowest through gases.
  • Three ways that waves may interact with matter are reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
  • Reflection occurs when waves bounce back from a surface that they cannot pass through.
  • Refraction occurs when waves bend as they enter a new medium at an angle and start traveling at a different speed.
  • Diffraction occurs when waves spread out as they travel around obstacles or through openings in obstacles.

Vocabulary

  • wave speed: How far a wave travels in a given amount of time; calculated as wavelength multiplied by wave frequency.
  • diffraction: Bending of a wave around an obstacle or through an opening in an obstacle.
  • reflection: Bouncing back of waves from a barrier they cannot pass through.
  • refraction: Bending of waves as they enter a new medium at an angle and change speed.


CK-12 Foundation, Physical Science. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/