Waves Flashcards
Frequency (F)
Number of waves produced in one second (Hz)
Transverse waves
Oscillate at right angles to the direction of energy transfer
Longitudinal waves
Oscillate in the same direction as the energy transfer
Period (T)
The time it takes one wave to pass a point (s)
Wave length
Horizontal distance between successive crests and troughs
Amplitude (A)
Half the vertical distance between crests and troughs
Diffraction
Spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap
Refraction
The change in speed as a wave moves from one material to another
Low pitch notes have a
Long wavelength
Quiet notes have a
Small wavelength and amplitude
Law of refraction
Angle of incidence = angle of reflection
As light enters glass it…
Slows down and bends towards the normal
When parallel beams of light hit Smooth surface =
Rough surface =
Reflection
Scattered rays
When the angle of refraction is 90° the angle of incidence becomes
The critical angle
What happens if the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle ?
Total internal reflection occurs
