waves definitions

Question 1

wave

Answer 1

a wave is a disturbance that carries energy from one place to another

Question 2

transverse waves

Answer 2

transverse waves are waves in which the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the propagation of the wave

Question 3

longitudinal waves

Answer 3

longitudinal waves are waves in which the direction of vibration is parallel to the propagation of the wave

Question 4

mechanical waves

Answer 4

mechanical waves are the vibration of particles

Question 5

electromagnetic waves

Answer 5

electromagnetic waves are the disturbance/vibration of electric and magnetic (electromagnetic) fields

Question 6

periodic travelling waves

Answer 6

periodic travelling waves are a regularly repeating cycle that appears to move in the direction of propagation of the wave

Question 7

crest

Answer 7

a crest is the highest point of a transverse wave

Question 8

trough

Answer 8

a trough is the lowest point of a transverse wave

Question 9

oscillation

Answer 9

an oscillation/cycle is one complete vibration of the source

Question 10

wavelength

Answer 10

wavelength is the distance from a point on a wave to the corresponding point on an adjacent wave

Question 11

frequency

Answer 11

frequency is the number of waves passing a point per second

Question 12

amplitude

Answer 12

amplitude is the maximum distance from the undisturbed position

Question 13

velocity of a wave

Answer 13

the velocity of a wave is the product of wavelength and frequency

Question 14

reflection

Answer 14

reflection is when a wave bounces off an object in its path

Question 15

refraction

Answer 15

refraction is the changing of direction of a wave when it goes from medium to another

Question 16

diffraction

Answer 16

diffraction is the spreading out of a wave into the space beyond a barrier

Question 17

interference

Answer 17

interference is the addition of two or more waves, forming a single resultant wave

Question 18

constructive interference

Answer 18

constructive interference is when two or more waves combine, resulting in a single wave of greater amplitude than source waves

Question 19

coherent wave sources

Answer 19

wave sources are coherent when they produce waves of the same frequency that are either in phase or a constant phase difference apart

Question 20

‘in phase’ waves

Answer 20

waves are ‘in phase’ when the crests from one source meet crests from another

Question 21

destructive interference

Answer 21

destructive interference is when two or more waves combine, resulting in a single wave of smaller amplitude than the source waves

Question 22

‘out of phase’ waves

Answer 22

waves are ‘out of phase’ when the crests from one source meet the troughs from another

Question 23

polarisation

Answer 23

polarisation is when the direction of vibration of a wave is restricted to one plane

Question 24

interference pattern

Answer 24

an interference pattern is the pattern formed when waves from two or more coherent sources combine, it contains a repeating pattern of constructive and destructive interference