Waves Flashcards
Define phase difference
The amount of which a particle of a wave leads or lags behind another particle of a wave
Define wave motion
It is a way/ means of moving energy from one place to another
Define wavelength
It is the minimum distance between two adjacent wavefronts
Define wavefront
A line made up of all the points of a wave that is in phase with each other
Define displacement
The distance moved by a particle of a wave from the equilibrium position.
Define amplitude
The maximum displacement of a particle from it’s equilibrium position.
Define Period
Time taken for one complete oscillation
Unit: seconds
Define frequency
Number of oscillations in one second
F= 1/T
F= hertz (Hz)
State the difference between Progressive/travelling waves and Stationary/standing waves.
•Progressive waves move from one place to another
•Stationary waves does not move from place to place
•Progressive waves carries energy from place to place
•Stationary waves traps energy within a boundary
Define transverse waves
Particles vibrate perpendicularly to the motion of the wave
Define longitudinal waves
Particles vibrate parallel to the motion of the wave
Define phase difference
This is the amount by which one oscillating particle leads or lags behind another oscillating particle of a wave.
Path difference
The difference in distance travelled by two particles or two waves from their respective sources to a given point
Phase difference of A&B= path difference of A&B/wavelength × 360°
Define Doppler effect
The apparent change in frequency of a wave due to relative motion between the source and observer
Define polarisation
Vibrations of a transverse wave are restricted to one plane only
