Properties of Waves Flashcards
Complete this sentence .
Waves transfer ____ and _____ but
do not transfer
_____Waves transfer energy and information
but do not transfer matter
What are the two types of waves?
- Transverse
2. 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
2. Seismic s-waves
Give two examples of longitudinal waves.
- Sound waves
2. Seismic p-waves
What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?
Compressions and rarefactions
What are the two parts of a transverse wave called?
Peaks and troughs
What is a wave’s amplitude?
The maximum displacement of a point
on a wave from its undisturbed position
What is wavelength?
● The distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave ● Most commonly peak to peak or trough to trough
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of waves that pass a given
point each second
What is the unit used for frequency?
Hertz, Hz
What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?
200 waves pass a given point each
second.
What is wave speed?
The speed at which energy is transferred
through a medium
What does a wave transfer?
Energy
What is wave velocity?
Wave velocity (measured in metres
per second) is equal to the product of
the wavelength and frequency of the
wave
State the equation used to calculate
wave speed. Give appropriate units.
Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength
Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz),
Wavelength (m)
What is meant by the period of the wave?
The length of time it takes for one full
wave to pass through a point
