Waves Flashcards
What is the definition of a progressive wave
a wave that transfers energy from one point in space to another, without transferring matter
what is a transverse wave
A wave where occupations at right angles to the direction of travel and energy
What are examples of transverse waves
electromagnetic waves, secondary seismic waves (s-waves), the top layer of water
what is longitudinal waves
where the oscillations are parallel to the direction of travel
what are examples of longitudinal waves
sound waves , primary seismic waves (p-waves)
what is amplitude
the maximum displacement of a wave
what is frequency
the number of waves each second
what is the time period of a wave
the time for a complete wave to pass
what is phase difference
how far apart two waves are. can be expressed in terms of numbers of wavelengths, degrees, or radians.
what is the wave equation
velocity = frequency * wavelength
what is polarisation, and what kind of wave does it work for
restricting the oscillation of a wave to one plane only. Only works for transverse, not longitudinal.
what is superpositions
2 waves meeting in phase
what is diffraction
when waves pass through a gap, they spread out. if the wavelength = gap size, the diffraction is maximum
what does coherent mean
waves with the same frequency, same wavelength, and a constant phase difference
To achieve a stationary interference pattern, what must two wave sources be
coherent