Waves Flashcards
Transverse waves
Wave in which the direction of disturbance is perpendicular to the direction in which the transverse wave travels
Amplitude
Maximum displacement of the particles of a medium from their rest positon
Wavelength
The distance between two consecutive points that are in phase
Period
The time taken for one complete wave to pass a point
Frequency
Number of waves that pass a point in one second
Period equation
T = 1 / frequency
Frequency equation
frequency = 1 / period
Waves are in phase with each other
Particles in the medium are moving in exactly the same direction with exactly the same speed as each other at the same time
Pulse
Single disturbance in a medium
Amplitude of pulse
The maximum displacement of the particles of the medium from their rest position
Transverse pulse
Pulse in which the direction of disturbance is perpendicular to the direction in which the transverse pulse travels
Principle of superposition
The amplitude of the resultant pulse at any point is the algebraic sum of the amplitudes of the individual pulses at that point
Constructive interference
Two or more pulses meet, resulting in a larger pulse being formed
Destructive interference
Two or more pulses meet, one amplitude is a negative number, therefore resulting in a smaller pulse being formed.
Longitudinal wave
Wave in which the direction of disturbance is parallel to the direction in which the longitudinal wave travels
Echo
The repetition of a sound when the original sound reflects off a hard surface
Equation to figure out depth
Velocity = distance / time
Electromagnetic waves
Transverse waves that do not need a medium in order to travel and travel at the speed of light (300 000 000m/s)
Dual nature of light
Electromagnetic waves can behave like both waves and like particles depending on the circumstances
Dual nature of light - wave nature
Exhibit properties such as interference and diffraction. Evidence is the double slit experiment
Dual nature of light - particle nature
Particle nature of electromagnetic waves refers to the idea that they can also behave as photons
Photons
Packets of energy that transfer energy to particles of matter
Equations for photons #1
Energy (J) = Plank’s constant x frequency (Hz)
Energy of photon #2
Energy = (planks constant x speed of light) / wavelength
