Waves Flashcards
amplitude (A) Wave
maximum displacement of the medium from the equilibrium position
Amplitude (Xo) SHM
maximum displacement from the equilibrium position
analyser
a device that can detect polarised light
antinode
position of maximum displacement
Brewster’s law
when light reflects off a surface it will be 100 percent polarised in the plane of the surface if angle between the reflected and refracted is 90 degree
coherent
wave sources that have a fixed phase relationship
compression
part of a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together
constructive inferencce
occurs when waves meet in phase to give maximum displacement
critical angle
angle of incidence above which total internal reflection may occur
destruction interference
occur when waves meet out of phase to give zero displacement
diffraction
spreading out of waves past an obstacle or through a gap
displacement (x) SHM
instantaneous distance from the equilibrium position in a specific direction
displacement (x) wave
instantaneous distance from the equilibrium position in a specific direction
electromagnetic waves
do not require a medium so can travel through a vacuum
frequency (f) SHM
number of oscillations per second
frequency (f) wave
number of oscillations of the medium per second