Waves Flashcards
What is the period, the symbol for period and how do you find it?
Period is the amount of time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point
T
It is the time divided by the waves
What is a pulse wave?
A single disturbance
What is a periodic wave?
A series of disturbances occurring at regular time intervals
What are the two types of waves?
Transverse and longitudinal
What is the wavelength and the symbol for it?
Wavelength is the distance between any two consecutive identical parts of a wave (top crest to top crest)
Symbol is upside down y
What is the amplitude and symbol for it?
Amplitude is the maximum displacement of the medium from the rest position. (Rest position to crest)
Symbol is A
What is the only thing that can affect speed?
The medium
What is the frequency, how to find it, and it’s symbol?
Frequency is the number of waves that pass by in a certain time
Frequency is the number of waves divided by the time
Symbol is f
What does 1/f equal?
Period or T
What’s the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?
Transverse the disturbance is perpendicular to the medium
Longitudinal the disturbance is parallel to the medium
Does changing tension of medium affect speed of wave?
Yes
If a hammer hits a metal bat would you hear the clink sound the same time the wave hits the end of the bar?
No different mediums mean different speeds (ones in air ones in metal)
What is interference of waves?
Happens when two waves intersect with each other going opposite ways and their amplitudes combine
What is constructive, destructive and total destructive interference?
Constructive means the amplitude is increasing, destructive means the amplitude is decreasing, total destructive means the amplitude is 0
What is the principle of superposition?
When two or more waves interact, the amplitude of the resultant wave is the sum of the amplitudes of the individual waves
What is fixed end reflection?
Occurs when a wave strikes a boundary with a more dense medium and the wave reflects back inverted
What is free end reflection?
Occurs when a wave enters a medium that is less dense and causes the wave to bounce back erect
What is partial transmission?
When part of the wave travels through to the new medium
What effect does a larger difference between the two mediums have on the reflected wave?
Makes it larger (more wave is reflected)
What aspect stays constant through the new medium when a wave transmits through a new medium?
Frequency
What results in waves passing through eachother when the constructive or destructive forces or stable?
A standing wave
What is the moving parts of a standing wave called? (The wave in the diagram)
The loop or antinode
What are the points of a standing wave called that are total destructive interference and don’t move?
Nodes
What is the formula for standing waves?
Wavelength= 2 (length of medium) / number of harmonic
