Properties of waves Flashcards
What is a Transverse wave?
A wave in which the medium vibrates at right angles to the direction of its propagation.
What is a Longitudinal wave?
Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles carrying the wave move back and forth, along the direction in which the wave is moving.
What is Frequency?
The number of waves per second passing a point
What is Wavelength?
The distance between adjacent crests (or troughs) of a wave
Speed, frequency and wavelength formula
Frequency (Hz) x Wavelength (m)
Reflection of waves
Reflection involves a change in direction of waves when they bounce off a barrier.
Refraction of waves
Refraction of waves involves a change in the direction of waves as they pass from one medium to another. Refraction, or the bending of the path of the waves, is accompanied by a change in speed and wavelength of the waves.
Diffraction of waves
The spreading of waves around obstacles.
