TOPIC 4 - U1 - General wave properties (P1) Flashcards
Def: Pulse
single disturbance that causes a wave to start propagating
Def: Propagate
spread or transmit through a medium
Def: Medium
substance through which wave moves
Def: Simple harmonic motion (shm)
regular repetitive movement
What is a wave
disturbance in a medium that transfers energy from 1 point to another
Do waves travel at the same speed through different mediums
No
waves travel at different speeds through different mediums
What causes waves to travel at different speeds through different mediums
Because of the diff in mediums
How does sound travel through solids
Travel faster in solids than in liq bc. particles is a solid are closer together than particles on other states of matter
When will light travel materials
When material is transparent / translucent
Name the 2 types of waves
longitudinal waves
transverse waves
Def: Longitudinal wave
when particles in medium vibrate backwards and forwards in direction of propagation, in same direction as motion of the wave
Def: Transverse wave
when particles in the medium vibrate at right angles to direction of propagation
What happens when a wave transports energy through a medium
Particles in the medium do not move with energy. They only vibrate in their original positions
Def: Crest
highest point of a wave
Def: Trough
Lowest point of a wave
