P5.1 - Wave Behaviour Flashcards
What is a wave?
A way that energy can be transferred without transferring matter
What are waves like in gases?
Particles far apart
Vibrations passed on slowly
Slow wave speed
What are waves like in liquids?
Particles close together
Vibrations passed on faster
Faster wave speed
What are waves like in solids?
Particles very close together
Vibrations passed on very fast
Very fast wave speed
What are transverse waves?
Waves in which oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
What are longitudinal waves?
Waves in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
What is a wavelength?
The distance between identical points in adjacent crests
What is wave speed?
The distance a wave travels in a given amount of time
What is wave frequency?
The number of waves that pass a particular point in a certain period of time
What is amplitude?
The distance of a peak or trough from the normal line
What is a wave peak?
The highest point above the normal line
What is a wave trough?
The lowest point below the normal line
What is the normal line in transverse waves?
The mean line into and out of a wave
When wavelength increases, what happens to frequency?
Decreases
When frequency increases, what happens to wavelength?
Decreases