waves, light, and optics Flashcards
period T
time for 1 wave to pass by
frequency, f
waves per seconds
high and low of wave
trough and crest
amplitude
distance above or below the equilibrium line
simple harmonic motion
any periodic motion that is the result of restoring force that is proportional to the displacement (back and forth motion over same path)
transverse wave
particles vibrate perpendicularly to direction of wave motion (like a “wave” at a stadium) (everything but sound pretty much)
longitudinal wave
particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion (sound)
speed of mechanical wave
constant for any given medium - changes in different mediums - frequency and wavelength of 2 sounds can be different but their speed in the same medium will be same
how do waves transfer energy?
transfer motion of matter rather than matter itself - depends on wave’s amplitude - if A doubles, energy quadruples
constructive interference
interference in which individual displacements on the same side of the equilibrium position are added together to forme the resultant wave
destructive interference
individual displacements on opposite side of equilibrium, cancels wave
range of human hearing
20 Hz - 20,000 Hz
at a free boundary
reflected pulses are identical to incident pulse
at fixed boundary
waves are reflected but inverted
Doppler effect
frequency shift that is the result of relative motion between the source of the waves and the observer
beats
pulsation in loudness when two tones of nearly the same frequency are sounded simultaneously
light
electromagnetic radiation, compound of several toms of radiation
spectrum progression
low f and long wavelength at radio end, high f and short wavelength at gamma end
incident and reflected angles?
equal
diffuse reflection
light reflected from a rough, textured surface such as a road surface is reflected in many differ directions
specular reflection
light reflected from a shiny, smooth surface is reflected in only one direction
refraction
bending of light as it travels at an angle from one medium to another because it speeds up or slows down
green + red
yellow
red + blue
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