General properties of waves Flashcards
Waves transfer energy without transferring what?
Matter
What is wave motion illustrated by?
Vibrations in ropes, springs, and water waves experiments
Define a wavefront.
A line connecting points on a wave that are in phase (e.g., all crests).
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The distance between two consecutive identical points, such as two crests.
What is frequency?
The number of wavelengths that pass a point per unit time.
Define amplitude.
The maximum distance from the mean position.
State the equation relating wave speed, frequency, and wavelength.
wave speed = frequency × wavelength (v = fλ)
In a transverse wave, what is the direction of vibration relative to the energy transfer?
At right angles to the energy transfer.
Give examples of transverse waves.
Electromagnetic radiation, water surface waves, seismic S-waves.
In a longitudinal wave, what is the direction of vibration relative to the energy transfer?
Parallel to the energy transfer.
Give examples of longitudinal waves.
Sound waves and seismic P-waves.
What happens to a wave during reflection?
It bounces off a plane surface at the same angle as it hits.
What is refraction in waves?
A change in wave direction due to a change in speed when moving through different mediums.
What is diffraction?
The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or around an edge.
How does wavelength affect diffraction through a gap?
Longer wavelengths diffract more through a gap than shorter wavelengths.
What affects diffraction at an edge?
The wavelength of the wave; longer wavelengths diffract more.
How can a ripple tank be used to demonstrate reflection?
Place a plane barrier; observe waves bouncing off at equal angles.
How can a ripple tank show refraction?
Use a change in depth (e.g., deeper or shallower regions); observe bending waves.
How can diffraction through a gap be shown using a ripple tank?
Place a barrier with a gap and observe how waves spread out after passing through.
How can diffraction at an edge be shown using a ripple tank?
Place a single obstacle in the tank and observe how waves bend around it.
Alternate: Describe how to measure wavelength using a ripple tank.
Observe and measure the distance between consecutive crests using a ruler or marker.
Alternate: How can wave speed be determined experimentally?
Measure the distance traveled by a wave in a given time and use the formula v = distance/time.
Critical: Why do waves refract when entering shallower water in a ripple tank?
The wave speed decreases, causing the wave to bend toward the normal.
Critical: What happens to the wave speed and wavelength when a wave passes into a denser medium?
The wave speed decreases, and the wavelength shortens.
Critical: Why does light diffract less than sound through a door?
Light has a much shorter wavelength than sound, so it diffracts less through similar-sized gaps.
Critical: Describe the relationship between frequency and wavelength in the wave speed equation.
They are inversely proportional; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases for a constant wave speed.
