Chapter 7 - General Properties of Waves Flashcards
Why do we use waves?
To transfer energy and information
Describe transverse waves
Waves oscillate perpendicular to direction of energy transfer of the wave
Are all EM waves transverse, mechanical or longitudinal?
Transverse
Describe longitudinal?
Waves oscillate parallel to direction of energy transfer of the wave
Are all sound waves transverse, mechanical or longitudinal?
Longitudinal
What do mechanical waves need to be able to travel?
A medium
Are mechanical waves longitudinal or transverse?
May be either
What is the speed of an EM wave in a vacuum?
300,000,000 m/s
Where is the amplitude on a wave graph?
From the height wave crest to the position of rest
How can you determine the frequency of a wave by looking at a wave graph?
Look at the number of wave crests passing a point in a second
How can you determine the wavelength of a wave by looking at a wave graph?
Distance from one crest/trough to another
If there is a bigger amplitude, what happens to the energy?
Carries more energy
What angle do plane waves reflected from a straight barrier reflect act?
The same angle as the incident waves
What is refraction?
Change in direction of waves due to change in speed when they cross a boundary between one medium and another
What is reflection?
When plane waves reflect from a flat barrier
What is diffraction?
The spreading out of waves when they pass through a gap or around an edge of an obstacle
What happens to diffraction if there is a narrower gap?
Increase in diffraction
What is interference?
Reinforcing or cancelling out of any type of wave when 2 of the same sets of waves overlap
What happens when a crest meets a trough?
They cancel out
What happens when a crest meets a crest or trough meets a trough?
They reinforce
Is interference a property of all waves?
Yes
