Sound And Waves Flashcards
Transverse wave
The direction in which the energy travels is perpendicular to the vibration of the particles of the medium
Longitudinal wave
The direction in which the energy travels is parallel to the vibration of the particles of the medium
Transverse vs longitudinal
Transverse can be polarized
Interference
When waves from coherent sources meet and combine
Constructive vs destructive interference
Greater amplitude for constructive
How to make a standing wave
Combine two progressive waves of the same A,f,v and in opposite direction
Standing wave
Large amount of energy stored locally. No net transmission of energy
Doppler effect
The apparent change in frequency of a wave due to the relative motion between the course and the observer
Explain Doppler
Source moving towards/away
- wavelength decreases/increases
- frequency increases/decreases
- wavefronts closer together/further apart
Uses of Doppler
Measuring the speed of a car
Measuring the speed of a star in the nights sky
Characteristics of sound and explain
Pitch-frequency of the sound
Quality-no and intensity of harmonics present
Loudness-amplitude of the vibration
Fundamental mode of vibration
Harmonics
Overtones
Strings vibrates at lowest frequency
Multiples of the fundamental mode of vibration
All the harmonics except the first one
Resonance
The transfer of energy between two bodies of equal natural frequency
Factors effecting the frequency of a string
Length
Mass per unit length
Tension
Diffraction
Spreading of a wavefront into the geometrical shadow when it passes through a gap or around an obstacle
