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
In a transverse wave, the wavelength can be measured from one peak to the other peak
In a Longitudinal wave, The wavelength can be measured from the centre of one compression to the other
What is frequency?
The number of waves passing a point in a second
Waves with a higher frequency transfer a higher amount of energy
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
