Waves Flashcards
Amplitude
The maximum displacement from the rest position.
Wavelength
The distance between two consecutive points in phase on a wave.
Frequency
The number of waves passing a point per second. (Measured in Hertz, Hz)
Period
The time taken for one complete wave to pass a point. (T = 1/f)
Wave Speed
The speed at which a wave travels through a medium. (v = fλ)
Transverse Waves
Waves where the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
Longitudinal Waves
Waves where the oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel.
Reflection
The change in direction of a wave at a surface that it cannot pass through.
Refraction
The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
Diffraction
The spreading of waves when they pass through a gap or around the edges of an obstacle.
Describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves with an example of each.
Transverse waves have oscillations perpendicular to the direction of travel (e.g., light waves), while longitudinal waves have oscillations parallel to the direction of travel (e.g., sound waves).
What happens to the wavelength and frequency of a wave when it enters a medium where it slows down?
The wavelength decreases, but the frequency remains the same.
Explain why sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum.
Sound waves require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through because they are mechanical waves that propagate through the vibration of particles.
What is the relationship between the amplitude of a wave and its energy?
The energy of a wave is directly proportional to the square of its amplitude. Higher amplitude means more energy.
When a wave passes through a narrow slit, what phenomenon occurs and why?
Diffraction occurs, causing the wave to spread out. This happens because the wave interacts with the edges of the slit and bends around them.
