3.0 Waves Flashcards
Define wave
Propagation of energy through a medium or vacuum, without transfer or the medium itself
Define amplitude
A waves maximum displacement from its equilibrium position
Define frequency
The number of cycles of a wave that pass a point in a second
Define wavelength
The distance between two consecutive points in phase
Define wave speed
The speed at which the wave propagates through a medium or vacuum
Define phase
The position a point is along a wave cycle
Define phase difference
The difference in phase between two points on a wave or two waves
Define superposition
When two or more waves combine, with the resulting displacement being the sum of individual displacements
Define path difference
The difference in distance traveled between two waves
Define coherence
When waves have the same frequency and wavelength, and a fixed phase relationship
Define monochromatic
When waves have the same wavelength
Define in phase
When two points waves are at the same point in their wave cycles
Define antiphase
When two points on waves are half a wavelength out of phase
