#3 Flashcards
What is the general equation for a wave represented in the text?
Y(z,t) = A Sin (kx - wt)
A represents amplitude, k is the wave number, and w is the angular frequency.
What does the term ‘wave velocity’ refer to?
The velocity of the wave called wave-velocity, denoted as Vp
Wave velocity can be related to the properties of the wave.
What is the relationship between phase velocity and particle velocity in a wave?
Phase velocity is less than particle velocity
This implies that the phase of the wave lags behind the particle motion.
True or False: The phase velocity is equal to the particle velocity.
False
The phase velocity is always less than the particle velocity.
Fill in the blank: The phase velocity is denoted as _______.
Vp
Vp represents the wave’s phase velocity.
What happens when the velocity of the particle is comparable to the velocity of light?
It becomes a relativistic particle
In this case, the usual equations of motion may not apply.
What is the relationship between energy and the wave in the context given?
Energy of the wave is given as E = m
This indicates a direct relationship between energy and mass in the wave context.
What does the amplitude of a wave represent?
The maximum displacement of particles from their rest position
Amplitude is a key characteristic of wave behavior.
What is the significance of the wave number ‘k’ in wave equations?
It represents the spatial frequency of the wave
Wave number is related to the wavelength and frequency of the wave.
In the wave equation, what does ‘A’ stand for?
Amplitude
Amplitude is a measure of the height of the wave.
What does the variable ‘w’ denote in the wave equation?
Angular frequency
Angular frequency relates to how fast the wave oscillates in time.
What does the term ‘particle velocity’ refer to?
The speed at which individual particles of the medium move
Particle velocity is a crucial concept when analyzing wave motion.
What is the effect of wave interference on particle motion?
Interference can lead to constructive or destructive effects on particle motion
This can significantly alter the energy distribution in waves.
What happens to the location of particles in a wave as it propagates?
Particles oscillate around their equilibrium positions
This oscillation is central to the behavior of waves in a medium.
Define ‘harmonic wave.’
A wave that can be described by a single sinusoidal function
Harmonic waves are fundamental in wave theory and applications.
