CHAPTER 12 Flashcards
PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION OF WAVES
when two waves meet at a point the resultant displacement at that point is equal to the sum of the displacements of the individual waves
SUPERPOSITION
overlap of two waves at a point in space
INTERFERENCE
superposition of two progressive waves from coherent sources to produce a resultant wave with a displacement equal to the sum of the individual displacements from the two waves
CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
superposition of two waves in phase so that the resultant wave has a greater amplitude than the original waves
DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
superposition of two waves in anti phase so that the waves cancel each other out and the resultant wave has a smaller amplitude than the original waves
INTERFERENCE PATTERN
a pattern of constructive and destructive interference formed as waves overlap
COHERENCE
two waves or sources that have a constant phase difference are coherent
MAXIMUM (WAVES)
the point of greatest amplitude in an interference pattern, produced by constructive interference
MINIMUM (WAVES)
the point of least amplitude in an interference pattern, produced by destructive interference
PATH DIFFERENCE
the difference in the distance travelled by two waves from a source to a specific point
MONOCHROMATIC LIGHT
light of a single frequency
STATIONARY WAVE
a wave that remains in constant position with no net transfer of energy and is characterised by its nodes and antinodes- also called a standing wave
NODE
a point at which the amplitude is always zero in a stationary wave
FUNDAMENTAL NODE OF VIBRATION
a vibration at the fundamental frequency
FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY
the lowest frequency at which an object can vibrate
