Waves Flashcards
What is wavelength?
the distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave.
What is Amplitude?
The maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position.
What is frequency?
The number of waves passing a point each second.
What is period?
How long it takes for one wave to pass a point.
What is wave speed?
The speed at which the energy is transferred through the medium.
What are electromagnetic waves?
transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the waves to an absorber.
What is Refraction?
The change in direction of a wave when they pass from one medium to another. It does not occur when a wave hits at 90o to the surface.
What is a transverse wave and an example?
the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
ripples on water surface
What is a longitudinal wave and an example?
the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
sound waves through air
What is on the Electromagnetic Spectrum?
(7)
radiowaves
microwaves
infrared
visible
ultraviolet
x-ray
gamma ray
Give an example of radiowaves.
television and radio
Give an example of microwaves.
satellite communications, cooking food
Give an example of infrared.
electrical heaters, cooking food, infra-red camera
Give an example of visible light
fibre optic communications
Give an example of ultraviolet
energy efficient lamps, sun tanning.
