Waves Flashcards
What is the wave equation?
v (wave speed in meters per second) = f (Frequency in hertz) x λ (wavelength in meters)
What is a trough in a wave?
The lowest point of a wave
What is a peak/ crest in a wave?
The highest point of a wave
How can you define a Transverse Wave?
Waves that vibrate or oscillate perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
How can you define a Longitudinal Wave?
Waves were the points along its length vibrate the parallel to the direction of energy transfer
What is amplitude?
The distance from the mid line to a wave crest or wave trough.
What is Wavelength?
The distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave
What is frequency?
The number of waves passing a point in a second
What is time period?
The time taken for a wave to pass a single point (Measured in seconds)
What is the equation linking frequency and time period?
f=1/T
Is light a transverse or longitudinal wave?
Transverse wave
How do you calculate wavespeed?
Wavespeed = frequency x wavelength
Is sound a transverse or longitudinal wave?
Longitudinal Wave
What is a wavefront?
An imaginary surface representing points of a wave that are at the same point in the cycle
How would you measure a wavelength in a transverse wave?
In a transverse wave, the wavelength can be measured from one peak to the other peak
How would you measure a wavelength in a longitudinal wave?
In a Longitudinal wave, The wavelength can be measured from the centre of one compression to the other
What is the Doppler effect?
The apparent change in an observed wavelength and frequency of a wave emitted by a moving source relative to an observer
How would the waves look for an observer infront of an object moving towards him?
The waves would appear squashed because the wavelength appears to be shorter with frequency appearing to be higher
How would the waves look for an observer behind an object moving away from him?
The waves would appear stretched apart because the wavelength appears to get longer which means the frequency is decreasing
Why can all waves be reflected or refracted?
Due to their interaction with boundaries and changes in medium, affecting their direction and speed.
