Waves, Sound and Light Flashcards
Wave
Add disturbance that carries energy from one place to another
Transverse Waves
Waves in which the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wave
Longitudinal waves
Waves in which the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of travel of the wave
Mechanical wave
The vibration of particles. It needs a medium in which to travel. It is a series of vibrations passing from molecule to molecule in the medium
Electromagnetic wave
Does not need a medium to travel it is the vibration of the electric and magnetic fields. It travels through a vacuum at the speed of light
EM spectrum long->short
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays
Travelling wave
Travels from the source producing it transfig energy to all the places through which it passes. Mechanical or electromagnetic
Crest
Highest point of a transverse wave
Trough
The lowest point of a transverse wave
An oscillation
One complete vibration of the source
Wavelength
The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave
Frequency
Number of waves passing a point per second
Amplitude
The maximum displacement of a wave from its mean position
Periodic time
Time taken for a wave to complete one oscillation T=1/f
Velocity of a wave
The distance travelled by any point on the wave in one second v=fλ
Reflection
The bouncing of waves of obstacles in their path
Refraction
The changing of direction of a wave when it goes from one medium to another
Interference
The edition of two or more waves, forming a single resultant wave
Coherent sources
Waves that are in phase and have the same frequency
Constructive interference
When two or more waves combine resulting in a single wave of greater amplitude than the source waves
Destructive interference
When two or more waves combine resulting in a single wave of a smaller amplitude than the source waves
Diffraction
The spreading out of a wave into a space beyond the gap or around an obstacle
In phase waves
When the crests from one source meet the crests from another
Out of phase waves
When the crests from one source meet the troughs from another
Polarization
When the vibrations are restricted to one plane only
Stationery wave
Formed when two waves of equal amplitude and frequency moving in opposite directions meet
Nodes
Points on a stationary wave that remain at rest
Antinodes
Points on a stationary wave that vibrates with maximum amplitude