P6 Flashcards
What is the definition of a wave?
A wave transfers energy from one place to another without transferring any matter.
What happens to particles in a medium when a wave travels through it?
The particles of the medium vibrate.
What is a medium in the context of waves?
A medium is whatever the wave is travelling through (e.g., water, air).
What do particles do as they vibrate in a wave?
They transfer energy between each other.
Do particles in a medium move with the wave?
No, overall, the particles stay in the same place.
What type of wave is created when you drop a twig into calm water?
Ripples spread out.
What are the two main types of waves?
Transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
In which type of wave are vibrations perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer?
Transverse waves.
Give two examples of transverse waves.
- Light
- Ripples on water
- Waves on a string
In longitudinal waves, how are the vibrations oriented in relation to energy transfer?
The vibrations are in the same direction as the energy transfer.
What are the two key features of longitudinal waves?
- Compressions
- Rarefactions
What is an example of a longitudinal wave?
A sound wave.
What does the term ‘displacement’ refer to in wave physics?
How far a particle on the wave is from its rest position.
What is amplitude in the context of waves?
The maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed (rest) position.
What is wavelength?
The distance between one point on a wave and the same point on the next wave.
How is frequency measured?
In hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz is 1 wave per second.
What is the period of a wave?
The amount of time it takes for one complete wave to pass a certain point.
True or False: Waves carry matter with them.
False.
How do you calculate the period of a wave from its frequency?
T = 1 / f
T is the period in seconds, and f is the frequency in Hertz (Hz).
What is the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength?
Wave speed (m/s) = frequency (Hz) × wavelength (m)
This equation applies to all types of waves.
What is the formula to calculate the wavelength from wave speed and frequency?
λ = v / f
λ is the wavelength, v is the wave speed, and f is the frequency.
What is the speed of radio waves in air?
3 × 10^8 m/s
This is the speed used to calculate the wavelength of radio waves.
What is the formula to find the speed of sound waves passing through air?
v = f × λ
v is the speed, f is the frequency, and λ is the wavelength.
What equipment is used to measure the speed of sound in the described method?
Oscilloscope and microphones
An oscilloscope displays waves, and microphones detect the sound waves.