Unit 4 Flashcards
What is a vibration
A vibration is the cyclical motion of an object about an equilibrium point
What is a mechanical wave
A mechanical wave is the transfer of energy through a material due to vibration
How are vibrations able to travel through a medium
Vibrations can travel through a medium because intermolecular forces that allow the distance between atoms to increase slightly without losing energy
What is Net motion
The displacement of a particle over a certain time interval; the difference between the particle’s initial and final position
Transverse waves
A wave in which the particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the flow of energy
Longitudinal waves.
A wave in which particles vibrate parallel to the direction of the flow of energy
Region in longitudinal waves in which the medium particles are closer together
Compressions
Region in a longitudinal wave in which the mediums particles are farther apart
Rarefactions
Wave characteristics:
Amplitude
Crest
Trough
Amplitude - the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium point
Crest - the maximum point of a transverse wave
Trough - the minimum point of a transverse wave
Factors affecting wave speed
Temperature
Linear density
Tension
Audible sound waves
20 hz to 20000 hz
Infrasonic waves
Sound waves with a frequency below 20 hz
Ultrasonic waves
Sound waves with a frequency over 20000 hz
