Waves Flashcards
what is a wave
a vibration that transfer energy from place to place w/o the transfer of matter
amplitude and wavelength
amplitude- max disturbance from a waves undisturbed postition
wavelength- distance between one point on a wave and the same point on the next wave
examples of different types of wave
EM
sound
seismic
transverse wave
vibration is perpendicular to direction of wave e.g EM, s
longitudinal wave
vibration is parallel to direction of wave e.g. sound, p
exhibit compression and rarefaction (particles are more further apart then average)
polarised wave
a wave that oscillates in 1 direction, materials can rotate the plane of polarisation
when light is reflected its partially polarised as intensity changes
frequency
number of waves produced by a source per second
1/ period
measured in hertz (Hz)
period
time taken for one whole wave to be produced
formula for wave speed
wave length (m) x frequency
what does 1 Hz mean
1 wave per second
seismic waves
S- type of transverse, they are slow and only travel through solids
P- type of longitudinal, fast, travel through liquids and solids
law of reflection
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
rough surfaces scatter light and sound in all directions but it still obeys the law of reflection
what causes echoes
reflection at a smooth surface
refraction
it is when a wave changes direction due to traveling through a medium of a different density
it happens due to a change in the wave speed
analogy of reflection and refraction
rippling of water waves
