Waves Flashcards
Define frequency and give its units
Number of waves passing through a point per Second measured in Hz
Define wavelength
Distance Between two adjacent peaks or troughs on a wave
Define Amplitude
The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position
What is time period
Number of seconds for the wave to cycle 1 wavelength
1/ frequency
What is Phase Difference
What fraction of a cycle are two points stationed away from each other
measured in radians
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave in which direction of the particles is parallel to the energy transfer
There are rare fractions (areas of low pressure) and compression (areas of high pressure)
What is a Transverse Wave
Waves where the direction of the particles is perpendicular to energy transfer
Em waves
In a EM wave how are the electric and magnetic fields arranged
Perpendicularly
What does a polarising filter do?
Only allows oscillations in a specific plane by restricting the vibrations to a specific direction
How is polarisation used as an evidence of the nature of transverse waves?
Polarisation can only occur if a waves oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of travel
As longitudinal waves would be able to pass through any polarisation filter.
How is polarisation used in antennas?
Tv and radio signals are usually plane polarised by the orientation of the rods on the broadcasting aerial.
So the Receiving aerial must be alined in the same way to receive the signal at full strength
What is a stationary wave?
A wave which transfers no energy and whose position of maximum and minimum amplitude (antinodes) & nodes are constant
Caused by the interference between 2 identical progressive waves traveling in opposite directions
Each particle doesn’t experience the entire amplitude of the wave
What is a node?
A point on a stationary wave where the displacement is 0
What is an anti node?
A point on a stationary wave of maximum magnitude of displacement
What are the conditions for a stationary wave to exist?
Waves must be of same
- frequency
- wave length
- amplitude
Must be travelling in opposite directions
Often met when a wave is reflected back on its self