Chapter 11 - Properties Of Waves Flashcards
Explain what happens when a stone is dropped into a pond
Waves spread out from point of impact, carrying energy to all parts of the pond
But water does not move from centre to edge
What is a transverse wave
Moves horizontally, coils vibrate vertically
Vibrate at right angles to the direction in which the energy wave is moving
E.g. Light waves, waves at water surface
What is an electromagnetic wave
A type of transverse wave
No medium needed to travel through
Travel through a vacuum
What is a longitudinal wave
Horizontal vibration of coils
Along the direction in which the energy or wave is moving
E.g. Sound waves
What do waves transfer
Energy from place to place
Information from place to place
What is another word for vibrations
Osillations
What is amplitude
A
Maximum movement of particles from their energy resting position caused by the wave
What is wavelength
Distance between a particle point on a wave and the same point on the next wave
Crest to crest / trough to trough
Waht is frequency
F
Number of waves produced each second or the number passing a particular point each second
Measured in hertz
what is period
Time it takes for a source produce 1 wave
Measured in seconds
What are compressions
When particles bunch up and there is high pressure and low velocity
What is a rarefaction
When particles spread out
Low pressure and high velocity
What is a reflective Ray front
When there is a barrier placed in front of the waves and they bounce back
What is refraction
The change of direction of waves when they travel across a boundary of a different medium
The denser the medium the closer to the Normal
Denser the medium the slower it moves
What would happen with diffraction if there is a small gap in the barrier
If the gap is smaller than the wavelength of the waves, the waves will be reflected off like it’s not there and there will be no diffraction
