general wave characteristics

Question 1

sinusoidal waves

Answer 1

may be transverse or longitudinal

individual particles oscillate back and forth with a displacement that follows a sinusoidal pattern.

Question 2

Traverse waves

Answer 2

those in which the direction of particle oscillation is PERPENDICULAR to the propagation (movement) of wave.

Question 3

longitudinal wave

Answer 3

ones in which the particles of the wave oscillator PARALLEL to the direction of propagation
the waves oscillate in the direction of energy transfer.
example: sound wave

can allow particles to compress or decompress (rarefaction) along the direction of motion of the wave.

Question 4

Wavelength

Answer 4

the distance form one maximum (Crest) of the wave to the next

Question 5

Frequency

Answer 5

the number of wavelengths passing a fixed point per second
measured in hertz (Hz) or cycles per second
related to angular frequency - which is measured in radians per second

Question 6

waves oscillate about a central point called the

Answer 6

equilibrium position

Question 7

when waves are perfectly in phase, we said that the phase difference is

Answer 7

zero

Question 8

principle of superposition

Answer 8

states that when waves interact with each other, the displacement of the resultant wave at any point is the sum of the displacements of the two interacting waves

Question 9

waves perfectly in phase:

Answer 9

constructive interference

the amplitude of the resultant wave is equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the interfering waves

Question 10

waves perfectly out of phase:

Answer 10

destructive interference

the amplitude of the resultant wave is equal to the different win amplitude between the two interfering waves

Question 11

two waves that are not quite perfectly in or out of phase with each other

Answer 11

partially constructive and partially destructive interference

the displacement of the resultant waves is equal to the sum of the displacements of the two interfering waves

Question 12

traveling waves

Answer 12

have continuously shifting points of minimum and minimum displacement

has an incident wave and a reflected wave

Question 13

standing waves

Answer 13

produced by the constructive and destructive interference of two waves of the same frequency traveling in opposite directions in the same space

Question 14

antinodes

Answer 14

points of maximum oscillation

found in standing waves

Question 15

nodes

Answer 15

points where there is no oscillation

found in standing waves

Question 16

resonance

Answer 16

the increase in amplitude that occurs when a periodic force is applied at the natural (resonant) frequency of an object

Question 17

damping

Answer 17

a decrease in amplitude caused by an applied or nonconservative force

Question 18

the noise that objects can make through vibrations are known as

Answer 18

timbre

Question 19

forced oscillation

Answer 19

force applied to a system periodically that drives the system at a frequency equal to the frequency of the force

Question 20

forced frequency

Answer 20

increases amplitude and is identical to the swings natural frequency