MCAT PHYSICS Flashcards
Mechanical waves
waves that require a medium to travel
Electromagnetic waves
waves that do not require a medium to travel. They can travel in a vacuum.
transverse wave
A mechanical wave. e.g. waves on a string.
A wave in which the medium is displaced perpendicularly to the direction of wave propagation.
longitudinal wave
e.g. sound wave
A wave in which the medium is displaced parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
period (T)
T= 1/f (F= frequency)
When a wave travels from one medium to another. What changes or stays the same?
Velocity of the wave changes.
Frequency of the wave remains the same.
If the temperature of a medium were to change, would this impact velocity?
Yes. As temp increases, so does velocity.
Think of gas particles moving faster when heat increases.
Relationship between elasticity and velocity of a wave?
Elasticity has to do with IMF. So the greater the IMF, the more likely something will bounce back to its original form and thus the more elastic it will be. The greater the elasticity, the greater the velocity!
relationship between inertia, density, and velocity of a wave?
As inertia (mass and density) increases, velocity decreases. As density increases, velocity decreases (think of walking through jello. jello is more dense than air and so you walk slower thru it.)
velocity of sound in solids vs liquids vs gases
v sound in solid> v sound in liquid > v sound in air
density of H20
1 g/mL or 1000 kg/m^3
Buoyant Force (FB)=
density* volume* gravity (Dvg)
of fluid of object
1 atm= _ mmHg =_ torr = _ Pascals
1 atm= 760mmHg = 760 torr = 1*10^5 Pascals
is water a compressible, or incompressible fluid?
INCOMPRESSIBLE!
is gas a compressible or incompressible fluid?
Gas is compressible!
