waves n stuff Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a transverse wave?

A

waves in which the direction of vibration of field/particle is perpendicular to direction of wave propagation

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2
Q

what is a longitudinal wave?

A

waves in which the direction of vibration of field/particle is parallel to direction of wave propagation

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3
Q

what is a polarised wave?

A

a wave where the vibrations stay in one plane only

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4
Q

what is an unpolarised wave?

A

a wave where the vibrations don’t stay in one plane

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5
Q

what is the period of a wave?

A

the time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point

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6
Q

what is wavelength?

A

least distance between two adjacent vibrating particles with same displacement and velocity at the same time

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7
Q

what is amplitude?

A

The maximum displacementof a vibrating particle

height of wave crest or depeth of trough from equilbrium position

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8
Q

what is refraction?

A

change of direction of a wave when it enters a more dense medium from a less dense medium

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9
Q

what is diffraction?

A

the spreading of waves passing through a gap or near an edge

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10
Q

what is an antinode

A

a fixed point in a stationary wave pattern where the amplitude and displacement is at it’s maximum

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11
Q

what is a node

A

a fixed point in a stationary wave where the amplitude and displacement is 0

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12
Q

what is equation for difference for distance between adjacent nodes on a stationary wave

A

half of the wavelength of the stationary wave

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13
Q

what is an electromagnetic wave

A

wavepacket or photon
consisting of transverse electric and magnetic waves
in phase and at right angles to each other

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14
Q

what is a mechanical wave

A

a wave that passes through a substance

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15
Q

what is one complete cycle of a wave

A

it’s from maximum displacement to the next maximum displacement

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16
Q

what is the displacement of a vibrating particle

A

it’s distance and direction from equilbrium position

17
Q

state a feature of longitudinal waves that transverse waves do not have

A

rarefractions and compressions

18
Q

what are wave fronts

A

lines of constant phase

19
Q

what is the direction in which a wave travels

A

at right angles to the wave front

20
Q

what is superpositon

A

the effect of two waves adding together when they meet

21
Q

what is the principle of superposition

A

when two waves meet the total displacement at a point is equal to the sum of the indivdiulal displacements at that point

22
Q

what is created when a trough and trough meet

A

a super trough is created

23
Q

what is created when a crest and a crest meet

A

super crest is created

24
Q

how is a stationary wave formed

A

when two or more progressive waves of the same frequency and amplitude pass through each other

25
Q

what is a stationary wave

A

a wave pattern with node and antinodes

formed when two or more progressive waves of the same frequency and amplitude pass through each other

26
Q

what happens when a crest and trough of the same amplitude meet

A

the resultant displacement becomes zero the two waves cancel each other out

27
Q

what happens when a crest and a trough with different amplitudes meet

A

the two waves cancel each other out

the resultant amplitude is miniumum

28
Q

what is observed when polarised light is passing through a polarising filter that is being rotated 360 degrees

A

variation in intensity between max and min

two maxima in 360 degrees roatation

29
Q

what is displacement

A

of a vibrating particle is its distance and direction from the equlibrium position

30
Q

what is the period of a wave

A

the time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point

31
Q

what is the frequency of a wave

A

number of cycles of vibration of a particle per second
or
number of complete passing a fixed point per second

32
Q

what is path difference

A

the difference in distances from two coherent sources to an interference fringe

33
Q

what is phase difference

A

the fraction of a cycle between the vibrations of two vibrating particles