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Basic Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a wave?

A

Propagation of oscillation in a medium

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2
Q

What are the types of waves?

A

Mechanical, electromagnetic and matter waves

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3
Q

What type of wave requires a compressible medium?

A

Mechanical waves

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4
Q

Wavelength

A

Distance between two points of a wave that have the same phase.

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5
Q

Frequency is an internal property. What does that mean?

A

It remains constant when the wave passes from one medium to another.

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6
Q

Velocity of propagation and wavelength depends on..

A

Properties of the medium

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7
Q

Transverse wave

A

Direction of oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Example: surface waves in water, electromagnetic waves (light)

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8
Q

Longitudinal wave

A

Direction of propagation is parallel to the direction of oscillation. Example: sound waves in air.

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9
Q

Linear polarization

A

A wave is linearly polarized if one distinct direction of oscillation is selected.

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10
Q

In a linearly polarized wave the plane of oscillation and the direction of propagation remains..

A

Constant with time

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11
Q

Wavefront

A

A surface containing points of waves in identical phases.

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12
Q

Spherical wave

A

Waves originating from a common point, but propagating in every direction in space (spatial waves).
Examples: clapping your hand or surface waves when tossing a pebble in a pond.

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13
Q

Plane wave

A

A wave in which the wavefronts form planes that are parallel to each other but perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Example: light beam of a laser pointer

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14
Q

Reflection

A

Incident wave (or part of it) turning back at the interface between different media.

Law of reflection: a=b

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15
Q

What determines the color of an object?

A

The reflection of light

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16
Q

How does ultrasound work?

A

Reflection of ultrasound at the boundary of two different organs or tissues.

17
Q

Refraction

A

The change in direction of propagation of a wave when passing through an interface between two media.

18
Q

The law of refraction (in case of light - Snell’s law)

A

The relationship between angles before and after the interface

19
Q

Interference

A

Occurs when two (or more) waves meet. The requirements for interference is that the waves have identical wavelengths and their phase difference stays constant in time.

20
Q

Constructive interference

A

When two waves meet in identical phases the resultant wave will become larger.
Equal amplitudes and identical phases gives amplitude with twice the size.

21
Q

Destructive interference

A

When two waves superpose in precisely opposite phases, the resultant waves will become smaller.
If the two waves had equal amplitude and opposite phases, the amplitude would be zero.

22
Q

Standing wave

A

Resultant pattern of interference between plane waves that propagate agains each other and have identical wavelengths and amplitudes.
Example: incident and reflected waves interfere.
Each point of a standing wave oscillate with different amplitudes.

23
Q

Amplitude of the nodes of standing waves

A

Zero

24
Q

Amplitude of the anti-nodes

A

Maximum

25
Q

Distance between two nodes

A

Half the wavelength

26
Q

Diffraction

A

Change in the direction of wave propagation due to an obstacle or slit in the path of the wave (not interference).
The smaller the size of the obstacle or slit, the greater the effect of diffraction will be.

27
Q

Huygens-fresnel principle

A

A concept of wave propagation. Every point on a wavefront acts as a source of new elementary waves. Can be imagined as spherical waves propagating in every direction in space.

28
Q

Sound

A

Mechanical vibration that propagates as a wave in compressible materials.

29
Q

Audible sound

A

20-20 000 hz

30
Q

Sound propagates as what kind of wave in solid materials?

A

Transverse and longitudinal

31
Q

What kind of wave does sound travel as in liquids and gases?

A

Longitudinal waves

32
Q

The frequency determines what in audible sound?

A

The pitch

33
Q

The amplitude determines what in audible sound?

A

The loudness

34
Q

The collection of fundamental and higher harmonics determine the

A

Timbre

35
Q

The compressibility of a material is important to what kind of wave?

A

Speed of sound

36
Q

The easier it is to compress a material (greater compressibility), the farther are its component molecules from each other and it will take longer for the molecules to pass on the vibrations.

A

Sound propagates slowly in great compressible materials

37
Q

Mechanical waves propagates as transverse waves only in … materials

A

Solid.

Basic Physics (7 decks)

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