Progressive Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a progressive wave?

A
  • A wave that transfers energy from one point to another without transferring the medium itself (without transferring any material)
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2
Q

What is the difference between a Displacement-Distance and Displacement-Time graph?

A
  • A displacement-distance graph is a snapshot of all the oscillating particles ‘frozen’ in time
  • A displacement-time graph shows one particle and how its displacement changes with time
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3
Q

What is the difference between wavelength and time period?

A
  • Wavelength, λ, measured in metres, is the distance between points on successive oscillations of the wave that are in phase (In Displacement-Distance graphs)
  • Time Period, T, measured in seconds, is time taken for one complete oscillation or cycle of the wave (In Displacement-Time graphs)
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4
Q

What is the amplitude?

A
  • Amplitude, A, measured in metres, is the maximum displacement of a particle in the wave from its equilibrium position
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5
Q

What is the frequency?

A
  • Frequency, f, measured in hertz, is the number of complete oscillations per unit time
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6
Q

What is the equation for frequency?

A
  • F = 1/T
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7
Q

What is the equation for wavespeed?

A
  • v = fλ
  • Or c = fλ if it asks about electromagnetic waves traveling in a vacuum (where c is the speed of light at 3 x 10^8 m/s^-1)
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8
Q

What does the wave speed equation show?

A
  • As the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases
  • As the wavelength decreases, the frequency increases
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9
Q

What is the phase difference?

A
  • The phase difference between two progressive waves is a measure of how much a point or a wave is in front or behind another
  • Two points on a wave are in phase if they are both at the same point in the wave cycle (Has same velocity and displacement)
  • When the crests or troughs are aligned, the waves are in phase
  • When the crest of one wave aligns with the trough of another, they are in antiphase
  • Phase difference is measured in fractions of a wavelength, degrees or radians
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10
Q

How can you calculate phase difference?

A
  • The phase difference can be calculated from two different points on the same wave or the same point on two different waves
  • λ/2 = 180 degrees = π radians
  • Two points with phase difference of 0 degrees or 360 degrees or a multiple of 360 degrees (Multiple or 1 full cycle of a wave) are in phase
  • Points with phase difference of odd number multiples 180 degrees (π radians, or half a cycle) are exactly out of phase.
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