4 Oscillation and Waves Flashcards
define:
frequency
The frequency (f) of an oscillation is the number of oscillations completed per unit time.
Frequency f is the number of vibrations per second performed by the source of the waves and so is equivalent to the number of crests passing a fixed point per second.
f=1/T
Define period
Period T is the time that it takes for one complete wavelength to pass a fixed point or for a particle to undergo one complete oscillation.
define
amplitude
The maximum value of the displacement is called the amplitude (x0).
Amplitude A is the maximum displacement of a wave from its rest position.
The gradient of a displacement–time gives the …
velocity
The gradient of a velocity–time graph gives the …
acceleration
The equation defining simple harmonic motion is…
a = –kx
with
a = acceleration
x = displacement
k = the constant of the system, defining how a and x relate
Define wavelength
Wavelength λ is the shortest distance between two points that are in phase on a wave, i.e. two consecutive crests or two consecutive troughs.
What is a phase difference ?
What is the phase difference between the displacement–time graph and the velocity–time graph?
When several graphs of rhe same shape start at different points.
the phase difference between the displacement–time graph and the velocity–time graph is equivalent to quarter of a period or T/4
define:
equilibrium position
The equilibrium position is where the displacement (x) is zero.
