Waves Flashcards
What do waves transfer?
Energy
What is the difference between longitudinal waves and transverse waves?
Longitudinal waves oscillate in same direction as energy travels (sound waves)
Transverse waves oscillate right angles to direction energy travels (electromagnetic waves)
How do energy from an earthquake travel?
Seismic waves transfer energy from focus through the earth
Primary waves = longitudinal waves, faster than transverse waves
What is the normal?
Imaginary line drawn at right angles to the surface
What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?
They are always the same
What is diffraction?
When is it greatest?
When waves spread through a gap
When wavelength = size of gap
What is refraction?
Wave changes direction as it changes speed in different materials
Slower in denser objects - refracts away from normal
