Waves definitions Flashcards
Progressive wave
Transports energy from one point to another in the direction of wave propagation
Amplitude
Magnitude of maximum displacement of a particle in the wave from its equilibrium position
Period
Time taken for a particle of a wave to complete one oscillation
Frequency
Number of oscillations per unit time
Wavelength
The distance between two consecutive points which are in phase
Speed
The speed at which the wave shape moves
Phase or phase angle
An angle that gives a measure of the fraction of a cycle that has been completed by oscillating a particle or by a wave
Phase difference
A measure of the fraction of a cycle which one is ahead of the other
Wavefront
A line or surface joining points on a wave that are in phase. The wave travels in a direction that is perpendicular to the wavefront
Intensity
The rate of transfer of energy per unit area normal to the direction of energy transfer of the wave
Transverse wave
One in which its particles oscillate in a direction perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
Longitudinal wave
One in which its particles oscillate in a direction parallel to the direction of energy transfer
Polarisation
A phenomenon whereby the oscillations of the wave particles in transverse waves are restricted to one direction only and this direction is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
