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Intro to Waves definitions

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  • Oscillation
    A repetitive movement that is a key characteristic of waves, involving up and down or back and forth motion.
  • Energy
    A fundamental property carried by all waves, varying in type and calculable based on the wave type.
  • Periodic Waves
    Waves with repeating cycles, where each cycle begins and ends in the same state.
  • Cycle
    A portion of a wave's motion that starts and ends in the same state, often measured from peak to peak.
  • Period
    The time it takes for a wave to complete one cycle, denoted by the symbol T.
  • Frequency
    The number of cycles a wave completes per unit time, often measured in hertz (Hz).
  • Wavelength
    The distance a wave travels in one cycle, represented by the Greek letter Lambda (λ).
  • Speed
    The rate at which a wave travels through a medium, calculated as wavelength times frequency.
  • Transverse Waves
    Waves where oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of propagation, like waves on a string.
  • Longitudinal Waves
    Waves where oscillation is parallel to the direction of propagation, such as sound waves.
  • Propagation
    The direction in which a wave travels through a medium.
  • Amplitude
    The maximum displacement of a wave from its rest position.
  • Compression
    An area in a longitudinal wave where particles are close together.
  • Rarefaction
    An area in a longitudinal wave where particles are spread apart.
  • Elastic Medium
    A material that can return to its original shape after being compressed or stretched, crucial for wave propagation.