Physics Chapter 11: Waves Flashcards

Sound Waves

• Sound waves require a medium to travel through.
• They are classified as longitudinal waves, where particle vibrations are parallel to the direction of wave travel.

Light Waves

• Light waves are electromagnetic waves and do not require a medium to travel.
• They are classified as transverse waves, where particle vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.
• The frequency of light determines its color, and higher frequencies correspond to higher energy and shorter wavelengths.

Water Waves

• Water waves transport energy without transporting the water itself.
• They can exhibit characteristics of both transverses and longitudinal waves.

Seismic Waves

• Seismic waves travel through rocks and materials within the Earth.

Wave Properties

• A mechanical wave requires a medium, while electromagnetic waves do not.
• The period of a wave is the time for one full wavelength to pass a point, and the frequency is the number of vibrations in one second.
• Amplitude refers to the maximum distance particles move from their normal position, determining sound loudness and wave energy.

Relationships between Wave Properties

• Frequency (Hz) is the inverse of the period (seconds) – as period increases, frequency decreases.
• A wave's speed is the product of its frequency and wavelength. For instance, a wave moving at 30 m/s with a frequency of 10 Hz has a wavelength of 3 m.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

• Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays are all types of electromagnetic waves; they differ in frequency and wavelength.
• Gamma rays have the highest frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum and are used in cancer treatment.

Mathematical Representation

• Sine curves are effective models for representing transverse waves.

Additional Concepts

• The effect of amplitude on mechanical waves correlates with energy; greater amplitude indicates higher energy.
• Photons are the packets of light in the particle model, and all light travels at about 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s in a vacuum.

True or False Statements

• A wave transports energy but not matter: True
• Visible light waves require a medium to travel: False
• Sound waves are longitudinal: True
• The greater the frequency, the greater the wave speed in a uniform medium: True
• The energy of a mechanical wave depends on amplitude: True
• The color of visible light is determined by wavelength: True

Unique Wave Characteristics

• The highest point of a transverse wave is called the crest, while the lowest point is called the trough.
• The wavelength can be calculated based on the period and frequency relationship.

Application of Waves

• Microwaves are utilized in cooking and communications due to their ability to transmit energy efficiently.