Wave Properties Flashcards
What is the Amplitude of a wave?
It is the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undistributed position.
What is meant by the Wavelength?
The distance between the same point on two adjacent waves. (measured from peak to peak)
What is the Frequency of a wave?
The number of complete waves passing a certain point per second. (Measured in Hz)
What is the period of a wave?
The amount of time it takes for a full cycle of the wave to pass a point.
What equation links Period and Frequency
Period (s) = 1/Frequency (Hz)
What are Transverse Waves?
Waves with oscillations (vibrations) that are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
What is an example of a Transverse Wave?
Ripples and Waves in Water
What are Longitudinal Waves?
Waves that oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
What is an example of a Longitudinal Wave?
Sound Waves
What equation links Wave Speed, Frequency and Wavelength?
Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength
What can happen if a wave arrives at a boundary between two different materials?
1) Absorbed
2) Transmitted
3) Reflected
What happens if a wave is Absorbed?
This would transfer the energy to the materials energy stores.
What happens if a wave is Transmitted?
- The wave would carry on travelling through the new material. (Used in communications e.g Bluetooth)
- Which often leads to rarefactions
What happens if a wave is Reflected?
It is sent back away from the second material
What happens to the speed of a wave when it crosses the boundary of two materials?
It changes
What happens if a wave is travelling along the normal?
It will change speed, but NOT refracted
What happens if the wave hits the boundary at an angle?
It changes direction (IS refracted)
What happens to the wave if it speeds up or speeds down?
If it speeds up - Wave bends away from normal
If it slows down - Wave bends toward normal
What affects the amount of refraction?
The speed of the wave, which is often affected by the DENSITY of an object
What is meant by the optical density?
The measure of how quickly light can travel through a material. (The higher the optical density the slower the light is etc)
What happens to the Wavelength when a wave is refracted?
It changes
What happens to the Frequency when a wave is refracted?
It stays the same
