compression-rarefaction wave
1Rarefaction — is the reduction of a medium s density, or the opposite of compression. A natural example of this is as a phase in a sound wave or phonon. Half of a sound wave is made up of the compression of the medium, and the other half is the decompression… …
2Compression (physical) — Compression test on a universal testing machine Physical compression is the result of the subjection of a material to compressive stress, which results in reduction of volume as compared to an uncompressed but otherwise identical state. The… …
3rarefaction — rarefactional, adj. rarefactive /rair euh fak tiv/, adj. /rair euh fak sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of rarefying. 2. the state of being rarefied. [1595 1605; < ML rarefaction (s. of rarefactio), equiv. to L rarefact(us) (ptp. of rarefacere;… …
4expansion wave — In supersonic flow, expansion waves occur when bodies begin to narrow, making more space available. In passing through an expansion wave, air velocity increases, while temperature and pressures are reduced. A simple wave or progressive… …
5longitudinal wave — Physics. a wave in which the direction of displacement is the same as the direction of propagation, as a sound wave. Cf. transverse wave. [1930 35] * * * ▪ physics wave consisting of a periodic disturbance or vibration that takes place in… …
6Mechanical wave — Ripple (surface wave) in water is a material wave. A mechanical or material wave is a wave that needs a medium to travel. The oscillating material does not move far from its initial equilibrium position, as only the energy is transferred by… …
7sound wave — noun (acoustics) a wave that transmits sound (Freq. 3) • Syn: ↑acoustic wave • Topics: ↑acoustics • Hypernyms: ↑wave, ↑undulation …
8sound wave — ► NOUN ▪ a wave of alternate compression and rarefaction by which sound travels through a medium …
9sound wave — noun Physics a wave of compression and rarefaction, by which sound is propagated in an elastic medium such as air …
10impact crater — Astron., Geol. crater (def. 2). [1890 95] * * * ▪ landform Introduction any feature on the continents that has been created by the impact of cosmic bodies (meteorites, asteroids (asteroid), or comets (comet)) on the Earth s surface. In fact …
