Waves Flashcards
What are waves?
Periodic disturbances in a medium
T/F: A wave transfers energy and material
False. A wave transfers energy without transferring the material.
Any material a wave can move through
Medium
What are common mediums?
Water
Air
Stadiums
T/G: Waves move the medium through which they travel.
False. Waves disturb the medium, they do not move it.
What is the most common form of a wave?
Transverse
Type of wave where the motion of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of the wave
Transverse Wave
Type of wave where the motion of the medium is along the direction of the wave speed
Longitudinal
What type of wave is sound?
Longitudinal
People pushing one another forward in a line is an example of what type of wave?
Longitudinal
Spots along the nodal line are called what?
Nodes
The points above and below the equilibrium
Above: Crests
Below: Troughs
Measurement of the energy in a wave
Amplitude
The length of a wave
Wavelength
The number of waves passing a point in one second
Frequency
Frequency is measured in what units?
Hertz (Hz)
Frequency is the inverse of ________________.
Period
The time for one wave cycle to complete
Period
Symbol for Wavelength
Lambda
Audible human range for frequency
20-20,000 Hz
Equation for wave speed
v=f lambda
Speed of Sound
340 m/sec in air (at 20 degrees celcius)
1520 m/sec in steel
T/F: The speed of a wave has nothing to do with its frequency or wavelength.
True. The speed of a wave is determined only by the medium through which it is traveling.
How can one change the speed of a wave?
Change the medium
