P12(Wave Properties) Flashcards
What is a wave
-waves transfer energy/information without transferring matter
What are mechanical waves
-vibrations that travel through a medium
What are examples of mechanical waves
-sound waves
-water waves
-waves on springs and ropes
-seismic waves
What are electromagnetic waves
-Waves which can travel through a vacuum at the speed of light
-no medium is needed
-EM waves slow down in a medium
What are examples of electromagnetic waves
-light waves
-radio waves
-microwaves
Waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer of the waves
What waves are transverse
-electromagnetic waves
-mechanical waves
What are longitudinal waves
Waves oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer of the waves
What waves are longitudinal
-Sound waves
-mechanical waves
What is amplitude
Maximum displacement from rest position
What is wavelength
The distance from a point on the wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave
What is frequency
The number of waves passing a fixed point every second
What are units of amplitude, wavelength and frequency
-amplitude and wavelength measured in metres
-frequency measured in hertz
What is the formula for time period
What’s the formula for wave speed
What is reflection
Bending of light without changing a medium
What is refraction
Bending of light with change of medium
When does refraction occur
At a boundary between two different materials because the speed and wavelength of the waves change at the boundary
At a boundary between two different materials waves can be ….
Transmitted or absorbed
What are sound waves
Vibrations that travel through a medium
Sound waves cannot travel …
Through a vacuum(space)
To investigate waves you use a …
-a ripple tank for water waves
-a stretched string for waves in a solid
-a signal generator and a loudspeaker for sound waves
The pitch of a note increases if the ….
frequency of the sound waves increases
The loudness of a note increases if the …
Amplitude of the sound wave increases
