Waves (Physics) 5 Flashcards
Identify wavelength and frequency Calculate equations using v = f × λ Rearrange the equation v = f × λ to calculate The wavelength or frequency of waves
What do waves do?
Waves transfer energy from one place to another without transferring any matter (stuff)
What is a medium?
A medium is just a fancy word for whatever the wave is travelling through eg water, air
Define wavelength
Distance from a point on one wave to the same point on the adjacent wave (measured in m).
Define amplitude
Maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position.
Define frequency
Number of complete waves passing a point in 1 second (measure in Hz)
Define time period
The time to complete one wavelength (measured in s)
What is wave speed?
The wave speed is the speed at which the energy is transferred (or the waves moves) through the medium in metres per second
State the equation used to calculate wave speed
wave speed (v) = frequency (f) x wavelength (λ)
Calculate the wave speed (in m/s) for a sound wave travelling through steel. The wave has a frequency of 500 Hz and a wavelength of 3.0 metres.
1500 m/s
Rearrange the wave speed equation to work out the frequency equation
Frequency = Wave speed / Wavelength
Rearrange the wave speed equation to work out the wavelength equation
Wavelength = Wave speed / Frequency
State what each of the parts of the equation are measured in
Wave speed = metres per second (m/s)
Frequency = Hertz (Hz)
Wavelength = Metres (m)
How do waves transfer energy?
When a wave travels through a medium the particles vibrate and transfer energy between each other
