Questions and Answers
What causes mechanical waves?
Mechanical waves are produced when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate.
What is vibration?
Vibration is a repeated back-and-forth or up-and-down motion.
What are the two types of waves and how are they classified?
Mechanical waves are classified by how they move; there are two types of mechanical waves: transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
What are transverse waves?
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What is a crest?
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What is a trough?
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What are longitudinal waves?
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What is compression?
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What is rarefaction?
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What is amplitude?
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What is wavelength?
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What is frequency?
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What is hertz?
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What is the formula that relates speed, wavelength, and frequency?
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What are the formulas for frequency and wavelength?
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What is reflection?
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What does the law of reflection state?
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What is refraction?
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What is diffraction?
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What is interference?
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What is constructive interference?
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What is destructive interference?
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What is a standing wave?
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What are nodes?
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What are antinodes?
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What is resonance?
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What is a wave?
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How are mechanical waves created?
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How are mechanical waves classified?
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Study Notes
Mechanical Waves
- Caused by energy sources that cause a medium to vibrate.
- Two types: transverse and longitudinal, classified based on movement.
Vibration
- Defined as repeated back-and-forth or up-and-down motions.
Transverse Waves
- Move the medium at right angles to the wave direction.
- Particles move across the direction of the wave motion.
Key Components of Transverse Waves
- Crest: The high point of a transverse wave.
- Trough: The lowest point of a transverse wave.
Longitudinal Waves
- Move the medium parallel to the direction of wave travel.
Key Characteristics of Longitudinal Waves
- Compression: Regions where particles are closely packed.
- Rarefaction: Regions where particles are spread out.
Wave Properties
- Amplitude: Maximum distance from rest position that particles move.
- Wavelength: Distance between two corresponding points of a wave.
- Frequency: Number of completed waves passing a point in a given time.
- Hertz: SI unit for measuring frequency.
- Speed: Related mathematically by SPEED = WAVELENGTH x FREQUENCY.
Formulas
- Frequency = Speed/Wavelength
- Wavelength = Speed/Frequency
Wave Interactions
- Reflection: Waves bounce back after hitting a surface.
- Law of Reflection: Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection.
Refraction and Diffraction
- Refraction: Bending of waves when entering a new medium at an angle.
- Diffraction: Waves bend and spread around barriers or through openings.
Interference
- Interaction between waves that meet.
- Two types:
- Constructive Interference: Waves combine to create larger amplitude.
- Destructive Interference: Waves combine to create smaller amplitude.
Standing Waves
- Formed when incoming and reflected waves combine at specific frequencies.
- Appear to stand still while two waves interfere.
Nodes and Antinodes
- Nodes: Points of zero amplitude on a standing wave.
- Antinodes: Points of maximum amplitude on a standing wave.
Resonance
- An increase in amplitude when external vibrations match an object's natural frequency.
Waves
- Defined as disturbances that transfer energy from one location to another.
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Description
Test your knowledge on mechanical waves, including types, properties, and key components of transverse and longitudinal waves. Understand the concepts of vibration, amplitude, wavelength, and frequency.