Waves Flashcards
Longitudinal waves
where the direction is parallel to the direction in which the wave travels. E.g sound waves in a solid/liquid/gas
Wavelength
The distance from one point on the wave to the corresponding point on the next cycle
Frequency
Measure of the number of oscillations of the wave per second
Periodic time
Time taken for one complete cycle
Interference
Occurs when waves from two different sources meet to produce a wave of different amplitude
Constructive interference
When waves from two coherent sources meet to produce a wave of greater amplitude
Destructive interference
Occurs when waves from two coherent sources meet to produce a wave of lower amplitude
Coherent waves
Have the same frequency and are in phase
Stationary waves
When two periodic travelling waves of the same frequency and amplitude, travelling in opposite directions, meet
Doppler effect
The apparent change in the frequency of a wave due to the the relative motion between the source of the wave and the observer
Applications of the Doppler effect
Police speed traps
Ultrasound
Measuring the red shift of galaxies
Weather forecasting
Transverse wave
A wave where the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels. E.g light waves/water wave
Resonance
The transfer of energy between two bodies with the same/similar natural frequency
Harmonics
Frequencies which are whole-number multiples of a fundamental frequency
Speed of wave
c=(lambda)f
