Waves and Wave Motion Flashcards
Travelling Mechanical wave
A disturbance carrying energy through a medium without any overall motion of that medium
Transverse wave
A wave where the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels
Longitudinal wave
A wave where the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction in which the wave travels
Refraction
The changing of direction of a wave as it travels from one medium to another
Diffraction
The spreading of waves around an obstacle
Interference
Occurs when two waves combine to produce a wave of different amplitude.
Constructive Interference
The amplitudes of two different waves add together to make a larger wave
Destructive Interference
Two waves combine to form a smaller wave
Coherent Sources
Sources which are in the same phase and have the same frequency
A polarised wave
A wave which vibrates in one plane only
Stationary Waves
Are formed when two periodic travelling waves of the same frequency and amplitude travelling in opposite directions meet
The Doppler effect
The apparent change in the frequency of a wave due to the motion of the observer or the source of the wave
Natural Frequency
the frequency at which the object will vibrate if free to do so
Resonance
The transfer of energy between two objects which have the same natural frequency
Sound Intensity
The rate at which sound energy is passed through unit area
