Waves Flashcards
What is a progressive wave?
An oscillation that travels through matter.
What do progressive waves transfer?
All progressive wave transfer energy but not matter.
Example of a progressive wave
Sound waves- when someone talks to you, the vibration travel to your ear, not the air particles.
What is a transverse wave?
The oscillation or vibration are perpendicular to the direction of the energy transfer.
Examples of transverse waves:
Water waves
EM waves
Waves on a string
S waves
What is a longitudinal wave?
The oscillation are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
Examples of longitudinal waves:
Sound waves
P waves
Displacement
The distance from the equilibrium position in a particular position. Can be negative or positive
Amplitude
Maximum displacement from equilibrium position/ can be positive or negative
Period of oscillation
The time taken from one oscillation.
Frequency
The number of wavelength passing a given point per unit of time.
Wave speed
The distance travelled by the wave per unit time
What is the wave equation
V=f λ
What is the equation for frequency?
F= 1/T
Define phase difference
The difference between the displacement of particles along a wave.
When are particles in phase?
When they are oscillating perfectly in step of each other- phase difference of zero
When are particles in Antiphase?
If particles are oscillating completely out of step with each other.
(one reaches maximum positive displacement whilst the other reaches maximum negative displacement)
The phase difference is 180
Using an oscilloscope to determine wave frequency.
Use a microphone to produce a trace on the screen. Count the squares to find the frequency
What is reflection?
When a wave changes direction at a boundary between two different media, remaining in the original medium.
State what is the law of reflection
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Do any properties of a wave change when a wave is reflected?
No their wavelength and frequency stays the same.
What is refraction
When a wave changes direction as it changes speed when passing from one medium to another.