Waves Flashcards
Wave
a disturbance that transfers energy from place to place
Energy
ability to do work
Medium
material a wave travels through - can be solid, liquid, or gas
Does a medium move with a wave
no, the particles vibrate while the waves go through
All waves need
energy
Mechanical wave
wave that travels through a medium
Electromagnetic wave
wave that travels through a VACUUM
(empty space)
Transverse wave
wave that move up/down
Top part of a transverse wave
crest
Bottom part of a transverse wave
trough
Longitude wave
wave that moves like a spring cursive L
Rarefaction (longitudinal wave)
spread out spring wave
Compression (longitudinal wave)
coiled up spring wave
Amplitude definition
amount of energy from resting position
Amplitude measuring in transverse wave
crest to crest or trough to trough (crest to resting position)
Amplitude measuring in longitudinal wave
of compression waves
Wavelength definition
distance between 2 parts of the wave
Wavelength measuring in transverse wave
crest to crest or trough to trough
Wavelength measuring in longitudinal wave
distance between two compressions
Frequency definition
of waves that pass a point at a given time
Frequency measured in
Hertz
Speed
how fast a wave travels
Speed equation
speed = wavelength (frequency)
Reflection
wave bounces off an object
Law of reflection
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
Refraction
wave changes speed due to change in medium
Refraction only occurs
when wave enters new medium at an angle
Rainbows explanation
raindrops in the air & light passes through it different angle and spreads out the ROYGBIV colors
Diffraction
waves move around or through a barrier
Constructive interference
2 waves combined and increase the amplitude
Destructive interference
2 waves combined to decrease the amplitude
Seismic waves
p waves (longitudinal waves) + s waves (transverse waves)+surface waves to cause destruction
