P5.1 Wave Behaviour Flashcards
What are vibrations!
The backwards and forwards motion of a solid or particles displaced from an equilibrium position
What are sound waves
A wave produced by a vibration
It needs a medium to travel through
What is a wave
An oscillation that transfers energy
What are electromagnetic waves
A wave that consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields
What is a mechanical wave
A wave that requires a medium to travel through
What does longitudinal mean
A wave where the vibrations are in the same direction as the energy transfer of the wave
What is a transverse wave
A wave where the vibrations are at right angles to the direction of energy by the wave
What is amplitude (A)
The distance from the middle to the top or bottom of a wave
What is wavelength (lambda)
The distance from one point on a wave to the same point on the next wave
What is frequency (F)
The number of waves or oscillations per second
What is the time period (T)
The time for one wave to pass a given point
What does a time trace show
It shows how displacement varies with time at a particular point
What does a snapshot show
Is shows how displacement varies with distance
What is wave velocity
The speed at which the energy of a wave is transferred
How do you calculate wave velocity
Wave velocity (m/s) = frequency (Hz) ✖️ wavelength (m)
