P6 Waves Flashcards
What are the two types of waves?
Transverse
Longitudinal
What is a transverse wave?
A wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
Give two examples of transverse waves
Electromagnetic waves
Seismic waves
(Water)
Give two examples of longitudinal waves
Sound waves
Seismic p-waves
What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?
Compressions and rarefactions
What are the similarities between transverse and longitudinal waves?
Both transfer energy
Both can be reflected (like light waves do off a mirror)
Both have repeated cycles
What are the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves?
How the particles oscillate
Transverse waves have peaks and troughs whereas longitudinal waves have compressions and rarefactions
Longitudinal waves always need a medium (matter) to transfer through
Define frequency
The number of waves passing a point in 1 second
It is measured in hertz (Hz)
The longer the wavelength the lower the frequency
Define period
Period is how long it will take for only one wave to pass a point.
Measured in seconds, it is the inverse of frequency
What is the equation for speed
Speed = frequency x wavelength
What is the equation for a period of a wave?
T= 1/f
What is the amplitude of a wave?
Height of a wave
What is the wavelength of a wave?
Distance between two peaks
What is a experiment to find wavelength?
Place a metre ruler at the side of the screen perpendicular to the wave fronts
Use the metre ruler to measure the length of the screen
Take the photograph of the shadow on the screen
Count the number of complete waves on the screen
Determine the wavelength by dividing the number of complete waves
What is an experiment to find frequency?
Count the number of waves that pass a given point
Time how long it takes for the waves to pass that point using a stop clock
Frequency is the number of waves divided by the time taken