3.3 Wave Systems Flashcards
Wave
A regular pattern of disturbance; something that vibrates
Medium
The material that is vibrated as a wave moves through it
Light waves
A wave that can travel through a vacuum (a space without matter)
Mechanical waves
A wave that requires a medium to travel through
Seismic wave
A wave produced in the earth
Transverse waves
A wave whose particles move up and down
Crest
The highest point/ point of maximum density in a wave
Trough
The lowest point/ point of minimum density in a wave
Longitudinal waves
A wave whose particles move from left to right
Wavelength, λ
The distance between two corresponding points on a wave (eg. peak-peak, trough-trough)
λ
Lambda, the symbol for wavelength
Velocity, v
The speed at which a wave moves (ms-1)
Frequency, f
The number of times a wave oscillates/ full cycles pass per second (Hertz/Hz)
Period, T
How long it takes for a full cycle/ whole wave (one crest and one trough) to pass a single point (s)
Amplitude, A
The height of a crest/ trough
Oscillation
The repeated back and forth movement between two positions
Direction of propagation
The overall direction a wave is moving
Radian
The arc subtending an angle. AKA the arc along a circle that intersects two sides of an angle.
Antinode
A point on a standing wave with maximum amplitude
Standing wave
A vibration where some parts of a wave remain fixed, while others oscillate at maximum amplitude
Node
A point on a standing wave with minimum amplitude
Beats
A resultant wave caused by constructive and destructive interference
Interference
When two waves from two different sources superimpose and make a wave of either larger, smaller or the same amplitude
Constructive interference
When two waves superimpose and the resulting wave has a higher amplitude than the previous waves
