Waves Flashcards
Medium
The substance or material in which a pulse will move
Pulse
Single disturbance that moves through a medium
Transverse pulse
A pulse where all the particles disturbed by the pulse move perpendicular to the direction in which the pulse is moving
Amplitude
That amplitude of a pulse is the maximum disturbance or distance the medium is displaced from its rest position
Pulse speed
The distance a pulse travels per unit of time
Principle of superposition
When the disturbances occupy the same space at the same time the resulting disturbance is the sum of two disturbances
Constructive interference
Went to pulses meet, resulting in a bigger pulse
Destructive interference
When two pulses meet, resulting in a smaller pulse
Wave
A wave is a periodic, continuous disturbance that consists of a train of pulses
Transverse wave
A wave where the movement of the particles of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave
Crest
Point on the wave where the displacement of the medium is at a maximum
Trough
displacement of the medium at the point is at a minimum
Wavelength of wave
Distance between any two consecutive points that are in phase
Period
Time taken to complete one wave
Frequency
The number of waves that pass a given point in one second
Wave speed
The distance a wave travels per unit of time
Longitudinal wave
A wave where the particles in the medium move parallel to the direction of propagation of the wave
Compression
A region in a longitudinal wave with particles are closest together
Rarefacation
Is a region in a longitudinal wave when the particles are furthest apart
