P12: Wave Properties Flashcards
What is a wave?
A wave is a way of transferring energy from one place too another without a transfer of matter between the two points
What are mechanical waves?
Vibrations which travel through a medium (substance)
What are electromagnetic waves?
Waves that can travel through a vacuum (no medium needed) at a speed of 300,000km/s
What are some examples of a mechanical wave?
- Sound waves
- Water waves
- Seismic waves (produced by earthquakes)
What are some examples of an electromagnetic wave?
Light waves, radio waves, microwaves
What is a transverse wave?
Waves where the direction of oscillation of the wave is perpendicular (at a 90° angle) to the direction of motion of the wave
True or False: All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves?
True
What are longitudinal waves?
Waves where the direction of oscillation of a wave is parallel to the direction of motion of the wave
True or False: All mechanical waves are also longitudinal waves?
False, mechanical waves can be transverse or longitudinal
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The distance from one point on a wave too the identical point on the next wave, meassured in meters
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The distance from the rest position too the top of the wave, measured in meters
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of waves (oscillations) per second, measured in hertz.
What is the equation for the velocity of a wave?
Velocity of wave = Frequency X Wavelength
What is the law of reflection?
The reflected wave moves away from the barrier at an angle equal to the incident of the wave
What happens to the speed, direction and wavelength of waves as they travel from deep too shallow water?
- The direction of the water will change
- The speed of the water will decrease
- The wavelength of the water will decrease
