7. Wave Characteristics & Periodic Motion

Question 1

what is a wave the transfer of

Answer 1

energy and momentum from one point to another

Question 2

what are the 2 types of mechanical waves

Answer 2

transverse and longitudinal

Question 3

what are transverse waves in terms of what they do to the medium

Answer 3

medium displaced perpendicularly to direction the wave is travelling

Question 4

what are longitudinal waves in terms of what they do to the medium

Answer 4

causes medium to be displaced parallel to the direction the wave is travelling

Question 5

what is the wavelength

Answer 5

measured from one point in the wave to the point where the wave repeats itself

Question 6

what unit is wavelengths measured in

Answer 6

metres

Question 7

what is frequency of a wave

Answer 7

number of wavelengths passing a single fixed point in one sec

number of cycles per sec

Question 8

what unit is frequency of a wave measured in

Answer 8

hertz

Question 9

what is equation for velocity of wave

Answer 9

v = fλ

Question 10

what is amplitude

Answer 10

maximum displacement of particle from equilibrium point

Question 11

can amplitude be negative

Answer 11

no, its always positive

Question 12

what is intensity of wave

Answer 12

square of amplitude

Question 13

what is the period of a wave

Answer 13

number of seconds it takes for one wavelength to pass a fixed point

Question 14

what is frequency relationship to period

Answer 14

period is the reciprocal of frequency

T = 1/f

Question 15

what does it mean when waves are phase with eachother

Answer 15

2 waves begin at the same point and have the same wavelength

Question 16

what is interference

Answer 16

superimposition of waves to create a new wave

Question 17

what are the 2 types of interference

Answer 17

constructive and destructive

Question 18

what is constructive interference

Answer 18

add together to create wave with a larger displacement than either original wave

Question 19

what is destructive interference

Answer 19

waves add together to create a wave with smaller displacement than either original wave

Question 20

what is resonance

Answer 20

when waves cause a object to vibrate at one of its natural frequency

Question 21

when does resonance occur

Answer 21

when first object is vibrating at the natural frequency of the second object

Question 22

what produces standing waves

Answer 22

produced from the repeated interference of 2 waves of identical frequency moving in opposite directions along the same medium

Question 23

what standing waves consist of which 2 things

Answer 23

nodes and antinodes

Question 24

what do nodes result from

Answer 24

destructive interference of the 2 waves

Question 25

what are nodes in terms of displacement

Answer 25

points of no displacement

Question 26

what causes antinodes

Answer 26

constructive interference of the 2 waves

Question 27

what are antinodes in terms of displacement

Answer 27

maximum displacement from rest position

Question 28

what are harmonic series

Answer 28

list of all wavelengths from largest to smallest of possible standing waves

Question 29

how are harmonics numbered

Answer 29

from longest to shortest wavelength

Question 30

the first harmonic has how many nodes

Answer 30

2 - the fewest number of nodes

Question 31

each successive harmonic in the series has what change in # of nodes

Answer 31

extra 1 node

Question 32

what is periodic motion - what are its 2 characteristics

Answer 32

motion that is regular and repeating