Waves Unit Test Review Flashcards
Mechanical Wave
- the transfer of energy thru a material due to vibration
- waves transfer energy not matter
What is a medium?
- the material that waves pass thru
- a medium is the material that permits the transmission of energy thru vibrations
- all vibrations need a medium to transfer waves
What is Net Motion?
the difference between the particles initial and final positions
What makes a medium elastic?
If the medium returns to its original shape after the wave passes through it is said to be elastic.
What is the difference between the transfer of waves thru rigid materials than thru less rigid materials?
- Generally rigid materials transfer waves more efficiently
- Mechanical waves last longer and go faster and farther in rigid materials than in less rigid materials
What are the 2 types of waves?
TRANSVERSE WAVES- a wave in which particles vibrate perpendicular to the flow of energy (water waves, light waves, micro waves, vibrations on instrument strings)
LONGITUDINAL WAVES- a wave in which particles vibrate parallel to the flow of energy (sound waves, ultra sound waves, tsunami waves, earthquake waves)
What causes waves?
Waves are created when a source of energy causes particles to vibrate
How can loudness be increased?
By increasing the amplitude
What is compression?
The region in a longitudinal wave where the medium’s particles are closer together (higher pressure region)
What is rarefaction?
- The region in a longitudinal wave where the medium’s particles are further apart (lower pressure areas)
- the trough on a transverse wave=rarefaction
Crest
the maximum/highest point on a wave
trough
the minimum/lowest point in a wave
Wavelength
the distance between 2 similar points in identical cycles in a wave (ex-from crest to crest or from trough to trough)
amplitude or loudness
the maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium point
frequency or pitch
the number of complete cycles that occur in unit time (usually 1sec)
measured in Hz
period (T)
the amount of time for a vibrating particle to complete one cycle
wave speed (V)
the rate at which a wave is travelling thru a medium
What is a phase of a wave
The x-coordinate in transverse and longitudinal waves is called its phase.
Phase shift
the amount that one waveform is displaced along the x-axis from an otherwise identical waveform
What is simple harmonic motion (SHM)?
SHM= any oscillating motion that repeats at regular intervals