Physics Waves Flashcards
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Physics Waves Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the amplitude of a wave?

  • The maximum displacement above or below the resting position. (correct)
  • A wave in which particles move perpendicular to the wave direction.
  • The point of maximum density in a medium.
  • Distance between two crests.
  • What is compression in a longitudinal wave?

    Point of a medium with maximum density.

    What is a crest in a wave?

    The point with maximum upward displacement.

    What characterizes an electromagnetic wave?

    <p>Capable of transmitting energy through a vacuum.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does frequency measure?

    <p>The amount of complete cycles occurring per time period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a longitudinal wave?

    <p>A wave where particles of a medium move parallel to the wave direction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a mechanical wave?

    <p>Not capable of transmitting energy into a vacuum.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a medium in wave terminology?

    <p>Material through which the disturbance moves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a period in wave physics?

    <p>The time for a mass to complete a cycle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a pulse in wave terms?

    <p>A single disturbance moving through a medium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is rarefaction in a longitudinal wave?

    <p>Point in a medium with minimum density.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a surface wave?

    <p>Particles undergo a circular motion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is a transverse wave defined?

    <p>Particles move perpendicular to the wave direction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a trough in wave terminology?

    <p>The point with maximum downward displacement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a wave?

    <p>A disturbance that travels through a medium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is wavelength?

    <p>Length of one complete wave cycle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where is a crest of a wave located?

    <p>At the high points.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where is a trough of a wave located?

    <p>At the low points.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where is the amplitude of a wave found?

    <p>Between its original state and highest and lowest points.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where is the wavelength of a wave measured?

    <p>Distance between 2 crests or troughs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the speed equation in wave mechanics?

    <p>speed = wavelength / period or speed = wavelength * frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Velocity is equal to _____ in wave physics?

    <p>Landa (wavelength).</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the frequency formula?

    <p>f = 1 / p (period).</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the period formula?

    <p>p = 1 / f.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is beat frequency?

    <p>f1 - f2.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    As the wavelength of a wave in a uniform medium increases, its speed will _____.

    <p>Stay the same</p> Signup and view all the answers

    As the wavelength of a wave in a uniform medium increases, its frequency will _____.

    <p>Decrease</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The speed of a wave depends upon _____?

    <p>The properties of the medium.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If two waves on identical strings have frequencies in a ratio of 2 to 1, how do their wavelengths compare?

    <p>1:2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the amplitude, period, and wavelength of Mac and Tosh's wave?

    <p>Amplitude = 16 cm, Wavelength = 96 cm, Period = 0.42 s.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    As the frequency of waves is doubled, what happens to the wavelength?

    <p>Halved, speed remains constant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the frequency in Hertz of a hummingbird with wing beats of about 70 beats per second?

    <p>70 Hz</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Determine the frequency and speed of ocean waves as observed in a storm?

    <p>f = 0.161 Hz, v = 1.4 m/s.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Will the reflected pulse in medium 1 be inverted?

    <p>Won't.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The speed of the transmitted pulse will be __________ than the incident pulse.

    <p>Faster.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The speed of the reflected pulse will be __________ than the incident pulse.

    <p>Same.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The wavelength of the transmitted pulse will be __________ than the incident pulse.

    <p>Greater than.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The frequency of the transmitted pulse will be __________ than the frequency of the incident pulse.

    <p>Same.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Will the reflected pulse in medium 1 be inverted due to the transition from less to more dense?

    <p>Will.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The speed of the transmitted pulse will be __________ than the speed of the incident pulse.

    <p>Less.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The speed of the reflected pulse will be __________ than the speed of the incident pulse.

    <p>Same.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The wavelength of the transmitted pulse will be __________ than the wavelength of the incident pulse.

    <p>Less.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The frequency of the transmitted pulse will be __________ than the frequency of the incident pulse.

    <p>Same.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Wave Properties and Definitions

    • Amplitude: Maximum displacement from the resting position of a mass.
    • Crest: The highest point of a wave indicating maximum upward displacement.
    • Trough: The lowest point of a wave indicating maximum downward displacement.
    • Compression: Location in a longitudinal wave with maximum density.
    • Rarefaction: Location in a longitudinal wave with minimum density.
    • Wavelength: Distance between two consecutive crests or troughs.
    • Period: Time taken for one complete wave cycle.
    • Pulse: A single disturbance traveling through a medium.

    Types of Waves

    • Transverse Wave: Particles move perpendicular to the wave's direction.
    • Longitudinal Wave: Particles move parallel to the wave's direction.
    • Mechanical Wave: Requires a medium for energy transmission, cannot travel through a vacuum.
    • Electromagnetic Wave: Can transmit energy through a vacuum.

    Wave Characteristics

    • Speed: Determined by the medium's properties; calculated using equations: ( \text{speed} = \frac{\text{wavelength}}{\text{period}} ) or ( \text{speed} = \text{wavelength} \times \text{frequency} ).
    • Frequency: Number of complete cycles per time unit, calculated with ( f = \frac{1}{p} ) (where ( p ) is the period).
    • Beat Frequency: Determined by the difference in frequencies of two waves, expressed as ( f_1 - f_2 ).

    Relationships Between Wave Properties

    • Increasing wavelength in a uniform medium implies frequency will decrease.
    • Frequency and wavelength are inversely related; as one increases, the other decreases.
    • The speed of transmitted pulses can be different from reflected pulses depending on the medium's density.
    • When transitioning from a less dense to a more dense medium, the reflected wave will be inverted.

    Practical Examples and Calculations

    • Given a wave's amplitude of 16 cm, wavelength of 96 cm, frequency of 2.4 Hz, and speed of 230 cm/s.
    • Ruby-throated hummingbird wing beats at 70 beats/s correspond to a frequency of 70 Hz; a wave moving at 350 m/s has a wavelength of 5.0 m.
    • Ocean waves observed to have a frequency of 0.161 Hz and speed of 1.4 m/s based on height and horizontal distance measurements.

    Reflection and Transmission of Waves

    • The reflected pulse in a medium transitioning from less to more dense will not be inverted, while speed and frequency remain the same.
    • The wavelength of transmitted pulses can increase compared to the incident wave in a less dense medium and decrease when going from a more dense medium back to less dense.

    Key Equations and Effects

    • Speed equations involve both wavelength and frequency; changes in one will affect the other.
    • The reflected pulse's characteristics depend on the density change between mediums, impacting its speed and wavelength.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge of key terms in wave physics with these flashcards. Each card features a term related to waves, including definitions for amplitude, compression, and crest. Perfect for quick reviews or studying key concepts in your physics class.

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