Properties Of Waves Flashcards
What are waves
One of the ways energy can be transferred between stores
How can waves be described?
Oscillations, vibrations around a rest position
What do sound waves to do air particles?
Rotate back and forth
What do ripples do to water particles?
Vibrate up and down
How do longitudinal waves move?
Parallel to direction of wave travel
How do transverse waves move?
At a right angle to direction wave travel
What are mechanical waves and what do they require?
They cause oscillations of particles in solids, liquids and gases and must have a medium to travel through
What are electromagnetic waves
Cause oscillations in electrical and magnetic fields
What do waves NEVER transfer
Matter
How do we hear sound
-Air is made of tiny particles that vibrate and collide when sound is made
-The vibrations travel and pass to a persons ear where they vibrate the eardrum
How do we calculate speed of sound?
s=d/t
What is the rest position?
Undisturbed position of particles
What is the peak?
Highest point of a wave
What is the trough
Lowest point of a wave
What is time period
Time taken for a full cycle of a wave
What is wavelength
Distance covered by a full cycle of a wave
What is amplitude
Maximum displacement from the rest position to a peak or trough
Explain the practical to measure waves in a ripple tank
Fill a tank with 5cm of water
Make wooden rod touch surface of water
Switch on lamp and motor and adjust till you can see low frequency waves
Measure number of waves and divide by length of waves to get wavelength
Count how many waves pass in 10 seconds then divide by 10 to get frequency
Calculate speed of waves with = frequency x wavelength
