Waves Flashcards
What is wave motion?
Wave motion is the transfer of energy from one point to another without the transfer of matter, typically through the oscillation of particles in a medium.
What are vibrating systems, and how do they relate to waves?
Vibrating systems, like tuning forks or strings, are sources of waves. They create disturbances in the surrounding medium, producing waves that carry energy away from the source.
How do waves transfer energy?
Waves transfer energy by causing particles in a medium to oscillate around their equilibrium positions, passing energy along the medium without permanently displacing the particles.
What is the difference between particle motion and wave motion?
Particle motion involves individual particles moving back and forth around a fixed point, while wave motion is the propagation of energy through a medium as a wave passes through, moving the disturbance rather than the particles themselves.
What is the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and wave velocity?
The relationship is given by the equation
**𝑉 = 𝑓 × 𝜆 **
where 𝑉 is wave velocity,
𝑓 is frequency, and
𝜆 is wavelength.
What are phase difference, wave number, and wave vector?
Phase difference refers to the difference in phase between two points on a wave.
Wave number is the spatial frequency of a wave, defined as the number of wavelengths per unit distance.
Wave vector is a vector that points in the direction of wave propagation and has a magnitude equal to the wave number.
Q: What is a progressive wave equation, and give an example?
A progressive wave equation describes the displacement of points in a medium as a wave passes through it. An example is
𝑌 = 𝐴 sin ( 2𝜋𝜆 (𝑣𝑡±𝑥) )
where 𝑌 is displacement,
𝐴 is amplitude,
𝜆 is wavelength,
𝑣 is velocity,
𝑡 is time, and
𝑥 is position.
What are mechanical and electromagnetic waves?
Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, like sound waves or water waves, while electromagnetic waves do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum, like light waves and radio waves.
What are longitudinal and transverse waves?
In longitudinal waves, particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of wave propagation, like sound waves. In transverse waves, particles move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, like waves on a string.
What is the difference between stationary and progressive waves?
Stationary waves (standing waves) are formed when two waves of the same frequency and amplitude travel in opposite directions and interfere, creating a pattern of nodes and antinodes.
Progressive waves are waves that move continuously in one direction.
What are examples of waves generated from springs, ropes, stretched strings, and the ripple tank?
Waves in springs and ropes typically demonstrate longitudinal motion, while waves on stretched strings and in ripple tanks (water) usually show transverse motion.
What is reflection in the context of wave properties?
Reflection occurs when a wave bounces back after hitting a barrier, with the angle of incidence equal to the angle of reflection.
What is refraction in waves?
Refraction is the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another, changing their speed and direction.
What is diffraction?
Diffraction is the spreading out of waves when they pass through a narrow opening or around an obstacle.
