Wave properties Flashcards
Unit for angles
Degree (°)
Unit for frequency
Hertz (Hz)
Unit for length
Metre (m)
Unit for speed/velocity
Metre/second (m/s)
Unit for time
Second (s)
What is a longitudinal wave?
Vibrations or oscillations are along the direction in which the energy or wave is moving
Examples of longitudinal waves?
Sound and ultrasounds
Shock waves (e.g. seismic waves)
What is a transverse wave?
Transverse waves vibrations are 90° to the direction the energy is transferred by the wave
Examples of transverse waves?
Light and EM spectrum waves
Ripples on water
What is wavelength?
Is the distance of one peak to another on a wave
What is frequency?
It’s how many complete waves there are per second
What is amplitude?
It’s the height of the wave from the rest position to the crest
What is a wavefront?
Is an imaginary plane that connects points on adjacent waves which are vibrating together
What is the trough?
The lowest point of the wave
What is the crest?
The highest point of the wave
What is the rest position?
The middle of the wave going horizontal
What is speed (in terms of waves)?
How fast the wave goes
What is a wave?
A wave transfers energy and information without the overall transfer of matter
What is the equation for wave speed (using frequency and wavelength)?
Wave speed = frequency x wavelength
v = f × λ
What is the equation for frequency (using time period)?
Frequency = 1/Time period
F = 1/ T
What does 1kHz equal?
1000Hz
What does 1MHz equal?
1,000,000Hz
What is the Doppler Effect?
It’s the change in frequency of waves as the source moves towards or away from the observer (which is stationary)
What happens if an abject moves away from the stationary object (Doppler effect)?
The frequency is lower as the wavelength becomes longer
What happens if an abject moves towards the stationary object (Doppler effect)?
The frequency is higher as the wavelength becomes shorter
What does a lower frequency and longer wavelength do to the pitch?
It lowers the pitch
What does a higher frequency and shorter wavelength do to the pitch?
It makes the pitch higher
What can all waves do?
They can all be reflected and refracted
Where are the compressions and rarefactions in a longitudinal wave?
Rarefactions are where the wave is stretched out the most
Compressions are waves are the closest to eachother
