Waves Flashcards
What do waves transfer?
Energy but not matter
What does a mechanical wave travel through?
A medium
Examples of mechanical waves
Sound waves, water waves, waves on springs and ropes, seismic waves from earthquakes
What are mechanical waves caused by?
Vibrations
What do electromagnetic waves travel through?
A vacuum
What is the speed of light?
300,000,000 m/s
Examples of the electromagnetic waves
Light waves, radio waves, microwaves
What are oscillations?
Vibrations of the wave
In longitudinal waves which way do the oscillations travel?
Parallel to the direction of energy
In transverse waves which way do the oscillations travel?
Perpendicular to the direction of energy
What is frequency?
Number of waves passing a fixed point per second
What are the units for frequency?
Hertz (Hz)
What is the equation of period?
Period = 1 / frequency
What is period?
Measure of time that tells us how long it takes to pass a fixed point
What is the equation for the speed of a wave?
Speed = frequency x wavelength