general properties of waves (physics)

Question 1

what is a wave

Answer 1

a wave is a disturbance that propagates through space, transferring energy with it but not matter
wave source is a vibration or oscillation. can be periodic

Question 2

what is a transverse wave

Answer 2

wave that has a direction of vibration that is perpendicular to direction of wave travel

Question 3

what is longitudinal wave

Answer 3

wave that has a direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of wave travel

Question 4

what is a wave crest

Answer 4

highest point of a tranverse wave

Question 5

what is a trough

Answer 5

lowest point of a transverse wave

Question 6

what is amplitude

Answer 6

maximum displacement of a point from its rest position
source dependent

Question 7

what is wavelength

Answer 7

shortest distance between any two points of a wave which are in a phase
source/medium dependent

Question 8

what is displacement of a point

Answer 8

distance from its rest position in a specified direction (has both magnitude and direction)

Question 9

definition of period

Answer 9

time taken to produce one complete wave
source dependent and dependent on how fast the source vibrates

Question 10

definition of frequency

Answer 10

number of complete waves produced per unit time
source dependent and dependent on how fast the source vibrates

Question 11

definition of wave speed

Answer 11

distance travelled by the wave per unit time
medium dependent
cnn be varied by changing the wave frequency or altering source

Question 12

wavefront definition

Answer 12

imaginary line on a wave that joins all adjacent points in a phase
direction of wave travel always perpendicular to wavefront
distance between two successive wavefronts is wavelength

Question 13

what happens to the frequency of a wave when the wave moves to deeper waters

Answer 13

stays the same