Relevant Waves Flashcards
What happens when waves travel through a medium
The particles oscillate and transfer energy between each other but overal the particles stay in the same - only energy is transferred
What is the aplimitude of a wave
the maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position.
What is the wavelength
the distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave.
What is the frequency of a wave
The number of completed waves passing a certain point per second. Frequency is measured in herts
What is an example of a transverse wave
The ripples on a water surface or a wave of a string
Transverse waves characteristics
The oscillations (vibrations) are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
Longitudal wave characteristics
The oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
Examples of longitudal waves
Sound waves or shock waves
Movements of longitudal waves
They refract and compress
What is wave speed
The wave speed is the speed at which the energy is transferred (or the wave moves) through the medium.
What is the crest and trough of a wave
Top and bottom
How can waves be reflected
Waves can be reflected at the boundary between two different materials. Waves can be absorbed or transmitted at the boundary between two different materials.
Angle of incidence =
Angle of refraction
What three things can happen when waves arrive at a boundry between two different materials
- reflect
- absorb
- tansmitt (leads to refraction)
What affects how waves do when arrive at two different objects
What happens depends on the wavelength and the properties of the materials involved
What is the angle of incidence
The angle between the incoming wave and the normal
What is the angle of refraction
The angle between the reflected wave and the normal
What is the normal
a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence
What is specular reflection
Happens when waves reflec a single direction by a smooth surface.
What is diffuse reflection
When a wave is reflected by a rough suface and the reflected rays are scattered as the normal is different for each incidence ray.
What affect refraction
How the wave speeds up or slows down depending on density of two materials
What happens when a wave crosses a boundry and slows down
The light will bend towards the normal (opposite for when it speeds up)
How does the waves change when refracted
The frequency stays the same but the wavelength changes
How can sound waves travel
Sound waves can travel through solids causing vibrations in the solid.