Wave parameters and behaviours Flashcards
Wave where the particles vibrate along the same direction as the wave
Longitudinal wave
Wave where the particles move at right angles (90°) to the direction of travel of the wave
Transverse wave
The number of waves per second
Frequency
What is the difference between the two waves shown below?
The bottom wave has a higher frequency.
(or the top wave has a lower frequency)
What is the difference between the two waves shown below?
Red wave has a bigger amplitude and more energy.
It is the distance from the centre of the wave to the crest or trough.
or
Half of the vertical height of the wave.
Amplitude
The time taken for one wave to pass a point.
It is also known as the inverse of the frequency.
Period
Top point (peak) of a wave
Crest
The bottom point of a wave
Trough
Horizontal distance from one crest to the next crest or one trough to the next trough
or
one point on a wave to the same point on the next wave.
Wavelength
The distance travelled per second
or
It is also the frequency multiplied by the wavelength
Wave speed
The bending of waves through gaps or around obstacles
Diffraction
Describe the diffraction pattern that would be observed when the gap width is much larger than the wavelength of light.
A gap width much larger than the wavelength causes little spreading
eg light waves passing through a doorway
Describe the diffraction pattern that would be observed when the gap width is similar to the wavelength of light.
A gap width similar to the wavelength of the waves passing through causes a lot of spreading, eg sound waves passing through a doorway.
What is the relationship between the wavelength of light and the extent of diffraction?
The greater the wavelength, the greater the diffraction.
