Waves

Question 1

Displacement

Answer 1

displacement any distance moved from equilibrium of a point/particle (on a wave)

Question 2

Amplitude

Answer 2

amplitude maximum possible displacement (caused by wave motion)

Question 3

Period

Answer 3

The time taken for one complete oscillation of a point in a wave

Question 4

Phase difference

Answer 4

The fraction of a cycle between the oscillations of two particles.

Question 5

Frequency

Answer 5

number of waves passing a point /cycles/vibrations (at a point) per unit time/second

Question 6

Speed of a wave

Answer 6

distance travelled by the wave (energy) per unit time/second

Question 7

Diffraction

Answer 7

paths spread out after passing through a gap or around an obstacle

Question 8

Continuous spectrum

Answer 8

all wavelengths/frequencies are present (in the radiation)

Question 9

Plane polarisation

Answer 9

oscillations/vibrations in one direction only/confined to single plane. Transverse wave only

Question 10

Interference

Answer 10

when (two) waves meet/combine/interact/superpose, etc. (at a point) there is a change in overall intensity/displacement

Question 11

Coherence

Answer 11

constant phase difference/relationship (between the waves)

Question 12

Nodes

Answer 12

node occurs where the amplitude is (always) zero

Question 13

Antinodes

Answer 13

antinode occurs where the amplitude (of the standing wave) takes the maximum (possible) value

Question 14

Fundamental mode of vibration

Answer 14

the pattern of a stationary wave, which appears at the lowest possible resonant frequency for a particular system, is referred to as the fundamental mode of vibration.