P11- wave properties 📻 Flashcards
1
Q
What is wave ?
A
- a wave, is a vibration or disturbance transmitted through a medium [a material] or through space, that transfers energy from one place to another, without transferring matter
2
Q
What are the two types of waves ?
A
- the two types of waves are:
- transverse
- and, longitudinal waves
3
Q
- Fill in the gaps: all waves ________ energy from one place to another, and it is the wave that moves not the ______ [such as water or the air]
A
- all waves transfer energy from one place to another, and it is the wave that moves not the matter [such as water or the air]
4
Q
What is a transverse wave ?
A
- a transverse wave, is a wave where the vibration is perpendicular [at right angles] to the direction of energy transfer
- [think t for transverse, since the direction of the wave is perpendicular to the oscillation, which looks like a t]
5
Q
What’s a longitudinal wave ?
A
- a longitudinal wave, is a wave in which the vibrations are parallel to the energy transfer
- [think ’l’ for longitudinal, as the direction of the wave is parallel to the oscillation, and looks like an I]
6
Q
What are the features of transverse waves ?
A
- transverse waves have oscillations that are up and down; their direction of energy transfer is perpendicular
- and unlike longitudinal waves, not all transverse waves require a medium [meaning transverse waves can travel in a vaccum]
7
Q
What are the features of longitudinal waves ?
A
- unlike transverse waves, longitudinal waves oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
- and, all longitudinal waves require a medium to travel in [for example, water waves require a liquid medium: water, to travel in]
8
Q
What are oscillations ?
A
- oscillations, are repeated and regular fluctuations, above and below the same position [of a wave]
9
Q
Easy: How can sound waves travel through the air ?
A
- sound waves will travel, as the air particles [in the air] move from side to side
10
Q
What are longitudinal waves composed of ?
A
- longitudinal waves are composed of compressions or rarefractions.
- there are compressions [regions or areas, where the crest between waves are close together]
- ; there are also rarefactions [regions or areas, where the crest bewteen waves are far apart, and the air particles are spaced out]
11
Q
What are some examples of longitudinal and transverse waves ?
A
- examples of transverse waves are:
- ripples on the surface of the water, which transfer kinetic energy
- ; examples of longitudal waves are:
- sound waves travelling the air
12
Q
What is the amplitude of a wave ?
A
- the amplitude of a wave, is the maximum displacement [crest or trough] of a point on a wave, away from its undisturbed position [the midpoint]
- [in simpler terms, the amplitude is the furthest point the wave vibrates from its undisturbed position]
13
Q
What does wavelength mean ?
A
- the wavelength of a wave, is the distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave
[distance between a point on one wave to the same point on the next wave]
14
Q
How can the wave length of longitudinal waves, be measured ?
A
- the wavelength of longitudal waves can be measured:
- by measuring from one compression to the next compression, and then vice versa from one rarefaction to the next rarefaction.
15
Q
What is the frequency ?
A
- the frequency, is the number of waves passing a point each second
