waves Flashcards
What is a wave?
A vibration that propagates in space. The particles do not move but pass vibrations between themselves. (transmit energy, not matter)
What is amplitude?
The distance between the central position of a wave and the peak.
What is a wavelength/
The distance between two identical points on a wave.
What is frequency?
The number of complete waves every second that pass a point.
What is a period?
The time taken to complete one full wave.
What is a transverse wave?
When the direction of the vibrations is perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
What is a longitudinal wave?
When the vibrations are parallel to the direction the wave travels.
Give 2 Longitudinal wave examples
sound waves
earthquake P-waves
Give 3 examples of transverse waves
earthquake S-waves
light waves
waves on water
What is the formula for a period?
1 /frequency
What is the formula for waves speed?
WS=F.W
