Waves - basics Flashcards
Transverse waves
Waves that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of travel
What are waves
Waves are the periodic disturbance within a medium
Mechanical waves
Waves that require a medium to travel through
What is an example of a mechanical wave
Sound waves
Longitudinal waves
Waves that oscillate parallel tot he direction of travel from the source
Characteristic features of a transverse wave
A transverse wave has crests and troughs.
Characteristic features of longitudinal waves
A longitudinal wave has compressions and rarefactions
What is a wavelength
A wavelength is the distance it takes to get from a crest of one wave to the crest of another wave. Or a wavelength is the distance it takes to get from one compression to the next compression. It is the distance it takes for a wave to complete 1 full oscillation.
What is the period
The period is the amount of time, in seconds, that it takes for 1 wavelength to complete.
What is a frequency
A frequency is how many wavelengths of the wave are completed within 1 second
The relationship between a frequency and a wavelength
The frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength
What is the relationship between the period and the frequency
The period is the time taken for 1 wavelength out of the frequency to occur. The formula is T=1/f
Relationship between wavelength and frequency
The larger the frequency, that means the more wavelengths of the wave are completed within 1 second. Therefore, the wavelengths must be smaller in comparison, if the frequency is larger.
