Sound and Vibration Flashcards

Grade 5 · Science · Flashcards

Key vocabulary for sound, vibration, pitch, and how sound waves travel.

Flashcards

Sound: A mechanical wave produced by vibrations that travels through matter.
Vibration: A rapid back-and-forth movement that produces sound waves.
Sound wave: A wave of compressions and rarefactions (expansions) that carries energy through a medium.
Frequency: The number of vibrations per second; measured in hertz (Hz).
Hertz (Hz): The unit of frequency; 1 Hz = 1 vibration per second.
Pitch: How high or low a sound is; determined by frequency — high frequency = high pitch.
Amplitude: The size (height) of a wave; determines loudness — greater amplitude = louder sound.
Decibel (dB): The unit used to measure the loudness (volume) of sound.
Echo: A sound wave reflected back to the listener after bouncing off a hard surface.
Echolocation: A navigation method where animals (bats, dolphins) emit sound and listen for echoes to locate objects.
Compression: An area of a sound wave where molecules are pushed together (high pressure).
Rarefaction: An area of a sound wave where molecules are spread apart (low pressure).
Medium: The material through which a wave travels; sound requires a medium (cannot travel in vacuum).
Vacuum: Empty space with no matter; sound cannot travel through a vacuum.