waves, sound and light

Question 1

a pulse

Answer 1

single disturbance in a medium

Question 2

transverse pulse

Answer 2

pulse in which the displacement of particles in a medium is perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the pulse

Question 3

amplitude (A)

Answer 3

the maximum displacement of a particle from its rest position

Question 4

pulse length

Answer 4

distance between start and end of a pulse

Question 5

pulse speed

Answer 5

distance covered by a pulse in 1 second

Question 6

superposition

Answer 6

the algebraic sum of amplitudes of 2 pulses that occupy the same space at the same time

Question 7

constructive interference

Answer 7

occurs when the crest of 2 pulses meet each other on the same side of the rest position.
-> resulting amplitude is larger

Question 8

destructive interference

Answer 8

occurs when a crest of 1 pulse and a trough of another pulse, meet on opposite sides of the rest position
-> resulting amplitude is smaller

Question 9

transverse waves

Answer 9

wave in which particles of the medium vibrates perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave
-> is a succession of transverse pulses

Question 10

trough

Answer 10

the lowest point of a wave at its maximum displacement from the position of rest in the opposite direction

Question 11

crest

Answer 11

the highest point of a wave at its maximum displacement from the position of rest

Question 12

wavelength

Answer 12

distance between 2 consecutive points in phase

-> unit of measurement = metre (m)

Question 13

2 points in phase

Answer 13

when they are separated by a whole number multiple of complete wavelengths

Question 14

point out of phase

Answer 14

they are not separated by a whole number multiple of complete wavelengths

Question 15

frequency

Answer 15

number of waves per second

-> unit of measurement = hertz (Hz)

Question 16

period (T)

Answer 16

time taken for one complete wave pulse to pass a point

-> unit of measurement = seconds (s)

Question 17

wave speed (v)

Answer 17

distance travelled by a point on the wave per unit time

Question 18

longitudinal wave

Answer 18

wave in which the particle of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of movement of the wave

Question 19

compression

Answer 19

region of high pressure and particles are close together

Question 20

rarefaction

Answer 20

region of low pressure and particles are far apart

Question 21

pitch

Answer 21

of a sound is directly proportional to the frequency of that sound

Question 22

ultrasound

Answer 22

sounds above 20 000

Question 23

electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 23

range of different types of EM waves

Question 24

photo

Answer 24

energy packets found in EM waves (quanta) that transfer energy to particles of matter

Question 25

node

Answer 25

point of zero disturbance when a wave crosses rest position

Question 26

antinodes

Answer 26

points where particle displacement is maximum

Question 27

sound

Answer 27

type of longitudinal wave

-> made through vibrations

Question 28

osilation

Answer 28

full-wave length