Properties of waves Flashcards
what are waves one of the ways of?
transferring energy between stores
what can waves be described as?
oscillations
define ‘oscillation’:
vibrating
what is the difference between the direction of the oscillations in longitudinal and transverse waves?
- longitudinal waves, vibrations are parallel to direction of wave travel.
- tranverse waves, the vibrations are at right angles to direction of wave travel.
what do mechanical waves cause? and what is their limitation (kind of)?
Mechanical waves cause oscillations of particles in a solid, liquid or gas
-must have a medium to travel through
what happens once a wave has passed through?
the medium ends up back in its rest position.
what do electromagnetic waves cause? and what are they all?
Electromagnetic waves cause oscillations in electrical and magnetic fields.
-transverse.
what do all waves transfer?
energy but they do not transfer matter.
define ‘rest position’
the undisturbed position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating.
define ‘displacement’
the distance that a certain point in the medium has moved from its rest position.
define ‘peak’
the highest point above the rest position
define ‘trough’
the lowest point below the rest position
define ‘amplitude’
the maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position.
define ‘wavelength’
distance covered by a full cycle of the wave. Usually measured from peak to peak, or trough to trough
define ‘time period’
the time taken for a full cycle of the wave. Usually measured from peak to peak, or trough to trough
define ‘Frequency’
the number of waves passing a point each second.
examples of a longitudinal wave: (3)
sound waves
ultrasound waves
seismic P-waves
what do longitudinal waves show?
areas of compression and rarefaction
define ‘compressions’
regions of high pressure due to particles being close together
define ‘rarefactions’
regions of low pressure due to particles being spread further apart
describe the movement/ transportation of particles in a longitudinal wave: (2)
none of the particles are transported along a longitudinal wave.
-they move backwards and forwards between compressions as the wave is transmitted through the medium.
examples of transverse waves: (4)
-ripples on the surface of water
-vibrations in a guitar string
-electromagnetic waves – eg light waves, microwaves, radio waves
seismic S-waves
describe the movement/ transportation of particles in a transverse wave: (2)
none of the particles are transported along a transverse wave.
-particles move up and down as the wave is transmitted through the medium.
One way to remember the movement of particles in longitudinal waves: ‘P sound’
longitudinal waves such as seismic P-waves may be thought of as Pressure or Push waves as the particles move Parallel to the wave.
