Waves, Interference, and sound Flashcards
What causes sound?
Sound is caused when something vibrates, making particles vibrate back and forth in the direction of the wave.
What carries sound waves to your ears?
The compressions and rarefactions carry the sound waves to your ears.
How is loudness related to sound?
Loudness is related to the amplitude of the mechanical wave. Greater amplitudes equate with louder sounds.
What does pitch describe?
Pitch is a description of how high or low the sound seems to a person.
What is the relationship between frequency and pitch?
Higher frequencies result in higher pitches.
What is the speed of sound affected by?
The speed of sound depends on the medium through which it travels and temperature.
In which medium does sound travel fastest?
Sound travels fastest in solids.
Does sound travel through a vacuum?
No, sound does not go through empty space (a vacuum).
What happens to the speed of sound as the temperature increases?
The warmer the medium, the faster sound travels.
What types of wave interaction exist?
type of waves= light waves
- Reflection
- Transmission
- Absorption
- Refraction
- Diffraction
- Interference
What occurs during reflection?
Wave reflection occurs when a wave bounces from a surface back toward its source.
What is an example of reflection?
An echo is an example of reflection.
What is wave transmission?
Wave transmission occurs when a wave passes through matter.
How does a transmitted wave differ from a reflected wave?
A transmitted wave is never reversed, while a reflected wave is always reversed.
What is wave interference?
Interference is the addition of two or more waves, resulting in a new wave pattern.
What are the two types of wave interference?
- Constructive interference
- Destructive interference
What is resonance?
Resonance is the tendency of a system to vibrate at maximum amplitude at certain frequencies.
How can resonance be observed in musical instruments?
When several musical instruments of the same kind play the same notes, the waves may combine to produce a louder sound.
