Chapter 5: Waves Flashcards
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What are waves?
Waves are disturbances that transfer energy through a medium or space without transferring matter. They can be produced by oscillating or vibrating systems.
What are the properties of waves?
Waves have several important properties:
Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position.
Period: The time it takes for a particle to complete one cycle of oscillation.
Frequency: The number of cycles of oscillation a particle completes in one second.
Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive points in phase.
Wave speed: The distance a wave profile travels in one second.
What are the two main types of waves?
Transverse waves: The particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Examples include light waves and water waves.
Longitudinal waves: The particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. Examples include sound waves.
What is the phenomenon of damping?
Damping is the gradual decrease in the amplitude of an oscillating system due to energy loss. This energy loss can be caused by friction, air resistance, or internal forces within the system.
What is resonance?
Resonance occurs when a periodic force is applied to an oscillating system at its natural frequency. This causes the system to oscillate with maximum amplitude.
What is the phenomenon of reflection?
Reflection occurs when a wave encounters a boundary and bounces back into the same medium. The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
What is the phenomenon of refraction?
Refraction occurs when a wave passes from one medium to another, causing the wave to change direction due to a change in speed. The angle of incidence is different from the angle of refraction.
What is the phenomenon of diffraction?
Diffraction is the spreading of waves as they pass through an opening or around an obstacle. The amount of diffraction depends on the size of the opening or obstacle relative to the wavelength of the wave.
What is the principle of superposition?
The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the resultant displacement at any point is the vector sum of the individual displacements of the waves.
What is interference?
Interference occurs when two or more waves from coherent sources (waves with the same frequency and constant phase difference) overlap. This can result in constructive interference (where the waves reinforce each other) or destructive interference (where the waves cancel each other out).
What are electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves are a type of wave that does not require a medium to travel. They are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of wave propagation. Examples include radio waves, light waves, and X-rays.
