Waves Flashcards
Electromagnetic waves
Waves that don’t rely on a medium to travel.
E.g. Light waves
Mechanical waves
Rely on a medium to travel (without it the wave doesn’t exist)
E.g. Sound waves
Transverse waves
Particles of the medium move perpendicular to the glow of energy
E.g. Light waves
Longitudinal waves
As the energy moves out from a central point the particles are compressed
E.g.sound waves
Amplitude
The height from the flow of energy to the crest of the wave.
E.g. The amplitude of a light wave determines if the light can or can not enter our eyes
Wavelength
The distance between crests or the distance between troughs.
Backwards h symbol (called lambda)
E.g. Radio waves wavelength is km
Light waves wavelength is 1/100mm
Frequency
The measure of how many waves go past a certain point per second.
The bigger the wavelength the lower the frequency
The less energy
Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz)
E.g. Ocean waves is 0.1Hz
Compression
The particles are closer together
Rarefaction
The particles are further apart
Reflection
Hits an object and bounces off
Refraction (behaviour)
Changes direction or speed when changing medium
Absorption
Energy taken in by the object
Diffraction
Waves curve around an object
Super position
Waves cross paths
Constructive
Waves amplitudes add together
