| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| amplitude | The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position. |
| compression | A region of high pressure in a longitudinal wave such as a sound wave. |
| electromagnetic wave | A wave consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are mutually perpendicular and can propagate without requiring a medium. |
| equilibrium position | The position of a particle in a wave when it is at rest with no disturbance. |
| frequency | The number of complete wave cycles that pass a point per unit time. |
| longitudinal wave | A wave in which particles oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. |
| mechanical wave | A wave that requires a medium to propagate, such as sound or waves on a string. |
| medium | A material or substance through which a wave travels. |
| rarefaction | A region of low pressure in a longitudinal wave such as a sound wave. |
| sound wave | A mechanical longitudinal wave that propagates through a medium and can be heard. |
| transverse wave | A wave in which the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. |
| wave | A continuous, periodic disturbance that transfers energy between two locations without transferring matter. |
| wave pulse | A single disturbance that transfers energy without transferring matter between two locations. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| amplitude | The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position. |
| equilibrium | The position or state where a wave has zero displacement. |
| frequency | The number of complete wave cycles that pass a point per unit time. |
| period | The time required for one complete oscillation or cycle of a wave. |
| periodic wave | A wave that repeats its pattern at regular intervals in space and time. |
| pitch | The perceived quality of a sound that is related to the frequency of the sound wave. |
| sinusoidal wave | A wave whose displacement can be described by a sine or cosine function. |
| wave speed | The velocity at which a wave propagates through a medium. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| boundary | The interface between two different media where wave interaction occurs. |
| frequency | The number of complete wave cycles that pass a point per unit time. |
| intensity | A measure of the average power transferred by a wave per unit area over one period. |
| longitudinal wave | A wave in which particles oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. |
| medium | A material or substance through which a wave travels. |
| polarization | The process by which charges within a neutral system become separated, with positive charges shifting in one direction and negative charges in another. |
| power | The rate at which energy is transferred, converted, or dissipated in an electric circuit, measured in watts. |
| reflected wave | A wave that bounces back from a boundary between two media. |
| transmitted wave | A wave that passes through a boundary and continues traveling into a new medium. |
| transverse wave | A wave in which the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. |
| wave inversion | A phase reversal of a reflected wave that occurs when the wave travels into a medium where the wave speed decreases. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| blue | A visible electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between green and violet. |
| electric field | A vector quantity that represents the electric force per unit charge exerted at a given point in space, originating from charged objects. |
| electromagnetic radiation | A collective term for all electromagnetic waves across the entire spectrum. |
| electromagnetic spectrum | The range of all types of electromagnetic waves ordered by wavelength, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. |
| electromagnetic wave | A wave consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are mutually perpendicular and can propagate without requiring a medium. |
| gamma rays | Electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, measured in picometers. |
| green | A visible electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between yellow and blue. |
| infrared | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than microwaves but longer than visible light. |
| magnetic field | A vector field that exerts a force on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. |
| microwaves | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than radio waves but longer than infrared radiation. |
| orange | A visible electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between red and yellow. |
| plane wave | An electromagnetic wave characterized by planar wave fronts. |
| propagation | The process by which electromagnetic waves travel through space without requiring a medium. |
| radio waves | Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, measured in kilometers. |
| red | The visible electromagnetic wave with the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum. |
| transverse wave | A wave in which the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. |
| ultraviolet | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays. |
| violet | The visible electromagnetic wave with the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum. |
| visible light | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths that can be detected by the human eye, ranging from red to violet. |
| wave front | A surface of constant phase in a plane wave, perpendicular to the direction of propagation. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |
| X-rays | Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet radiation but longer than gamma rays. |
| yellow | A visible electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between orange and green. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Doppler effect | The change in observed frequency of a wave due to relative motion between the source and observer. |
| observed frequency | The frequency of a wave as measured by an observer, which may differ from the rest frequency due to relative motion. |
| relative velocity | The velocity of the wave source with respect to the observer. |
| rest frequency | The frequency of a wave emitted by a source at rest relative to the observer. |
| wave source | An object or system that emits waves. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| amplitude | The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position. |
| amplitude variations | Periodic changes in the amplitude of a resultant wave when two or more traveling wave pulses or waves interact. |
| antinode | A point on a standing wave where the amplitude is always at maximum. |
| beat frequency | The difference between the frequencies of two waves, calculated as |f₁ - f₂|, which determines the rate of amplitude variations. |
| beats | Periodic amplitude variations that arise from the addition of two waves with slightly different frequencies. |
| constructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of greater amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are in phase. |
| destructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of reduced amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are out of phase. |
| fundamental | The standing wave with the longest possible wavelength, also called the first harmonic. |
| harmonic | A standing wave pattern characterized by a specific wavelength, numbered according to its rank from longest to shortest wavelength. |
| in phase | A condition where two waves have displacements in the same direction at the same location. |
| interference | The phenomenon where the wave nature of light is important and cannot be neglected, involving the superposition of light waves. |
| node | A point on a standing wave where the amplitude is always zero. |
| odd harmonics | Harmonic patterns that can be established in a standing wave with a node at one end and an antinode at the other end. |
| out of phase | A condition where two waves have displacements in opposite directions at the same location. |
| second harmonic | The standing wave with the second-longest possible wavelength. |
| standing wave | A wave pattern that results from interference between two waves traveling in opposite directions within a confined region, characterized by fixed points of zero and maximum amplitude. |
| superposition | The principle that when two or more waves overlap, the resulting displacement is determined by adding the individual displacements. |
| third harmonic | The standing wave with the third-longest possible wavelength. |
| wave interference | The interaction of two or more wave pulses or waves that overlap and travel through each other. |
| wave pulses | Individual disturbances that travel through a medium, characterized by a single peak or trough. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| central bright fringe | The brightest band at the center of a single-slit diffraction pattern, resulting from constructive interference. |
| constructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of greater amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are in phase. |
| destructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of reduced amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are out of phase. |
| diffraction | The spreading of a wave around the edges of an obstacle or through an opening. |
| diffraction pattern | The pattern of light and dark bands produced when a wave passes through an opening, resulting from interference of multiple wavefronts. |
| interference pattern | The observable pattern created by the superposition of multiple waves, resulting in regions of constructive and destructive interference. |
| monochromatic light | Light of a single wavelength or frequency. |
| path length difference | The difference in distances traveled by two wavefronts, denoted as ΔD, which determines the type of interference between them. |
| single-slit diffraction | The diffraction pattern produced when a wave passes through a single narrow opening. |
| small angle approximation | A mathematical approximation used when the angle θ is less than 10°, allowing simplified relationships between diffraction parameters. |
| wavefront | A surface of constant phase in a propagating wave, perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| center maximum | The central bright fringe in a diffraction pattern, where all wavelengths of white light interfere constructively and appear white. |
| central bright fringe | The brightest band at the center of a single-slit diffraction pattern, resulting from constructive interference. |
| constructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of greater amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are in phase. |
| destructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of reduced amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are out of phase. |
| diffraction grating | An optical device consisting of many evenly spaced parallel slits or openings that produce an interference pattern by superimposing numerous diffraction patterns. |
| diffraction pattern | The pattern of light and dark bands produced when a wave passes through an opening, resulting from interference of multiple wavefronts. |
| dispersion | The separation of white light into its component wavelengths or colors based on their different angles of diffraction. |
| higher-order maxima | Bright fringes in a diffraction pattern at positions beyond the central maximum, corresponding to m = 1, 2, 3, and so on. |
| monochromatic light | Light of a single wavelength or frequency. |
| order of maximum brightness | The integer m that designates the position of bright fringes in an interference pattern, where m = 0 for the central maximum, m = 1 for the first-order maximum, and so on. |
| path length difference | The difference in distances traveled by two wavefronts, denoted as ΔD, which determines the type of interference between them. |
| slit separation | The distance between two adjacent slits, represented by the symbol d. |
| small angle approximation | A mathematical approximation used when the angle θ is less than 10°, allowing simplified relationships between diffraction parameters. |
| wave diffraction | The bending and spreading of a wave as it passes through an opening or around an obstacle. |
| wave interference | The interaction of two or more wave pulses or waves that overlap and travel through each other. |
| wavefront | A surface of constant phase in a propagating wave, perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |
| white light | Light composed of all visible wavelengths combined, appearing colorless. |
| Young's double-slit experiment | An experiment demonstrating wave properties of particles through the observation of interference patterns. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| absorbed | Light that is taken in by a medium and converted to other forms of energy rather than being reflected or transmitted. |
| antireflection coating | A thin layer applied to a surface that uses destructive interference to eliminate reflected light by controlling thickness and index of refraction. |
| constructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of greater amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are in phase. |
| destructive interference | The superposition of waves that results in a wave of reduced amplitude, occurring when wavefronts are out of phase. |
| index of refraction | A measure of how much a medium slows down light compared to its speed in vacuum, determining the degree of bending and reflection of light at interfaces. |
| normal incidence | Light striking a surface at a perpendicular angle (90 degrees) to the surface. |
| oil films | A practical example of thin-film interference where spectrum colors are observed due to variations in film thickness. |
| phase change | A shift in the phase of a light wave upon reflection, which can be 180 degrees or zero degrees depending on the relative indices of refraction of the materials. |
| reflected ray | A ray of light that bounces off a surface after reflection. |
| refracted | The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different index of refraction. |
| soap bubbles | A practical example of thin-film interference where color variations result from differences in film thickness. |
| thin film | A medium whose thickness is comparable to the wavelength of light, causing interference effects when light interacts with it. |
| thin-film interference | The wave interference pattern that occurs when light reflects from the two surfaces of a thin film, resulting in constructive or destructive interference. |
| transmitted | Light that passes through a medium rather than being reflected or absorbed. |
| wave interference | The interaction of two or more wave pulses or waves that overlap and travel through each other. |
| wavelength | The distance between consecutive points of the same phase in a wave, typically denoted by λ. |