Questions and Answers
What is energy?
The ability to do work or cause change.
What is a wave?
A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place.
What is propagation?
Forward direction of travel for a wave.
What is a medium?
Signup and view all the answers
What is oscillation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a crest?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a trough?
Signup and view all the answers
What is wavelength?
Signup and view all the answers
What is amplitude?
Signup and view all the answers
If the energy in a wave increases, the amplitude will...
Signup and view all the answers
What is frequency?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Hertz (Hz) measure?
Signup and view all the answers
If the frequency of a wave increases, the wavelength will...
Signup and view all the answers
What are mechanical waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What are electromagnetic waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What are transverse waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What are longitudinal waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What is rarefaction?
Signup and view all the answers
What is compression?
Signup and view all the answers
What are seismic waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What is wave speed?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a period in wave physics?
Signup and view all the answers
What is absorption in wave terms?
Signup and view all the answers
What is transmission in wave context?
Signup and view all the answers
What is reflection?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the law of reflection?
Signup and view all the answers
What is refraction?
Signup and view all the answers
What is diffraction?
Signup and view all the answers
What is constructive interference?
Signup and view all the answers
What is destructive interference?
Signup and view all the answers
What is resonance?
Signup and view all the answers
What are examples of transverse waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What are examples of longitudinal waves?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a node?
Signup and view all the answers
What are anti-nodes?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Wave Basics
- Energy: The capacity to perform work or instigate change.
- Wave: A disturbance that transfers energy from one location to another.
- Propagation: Describes the forward movement of a wave through a medium.
- Medium: The substance or material that facilitates wave movement.
Wave Properties
- Oscillation: A quick to and fro motion; represents vibration.
- Crest: The highest point reached by a transverse wave.
- Trough: The lowest point in a transverse wave.
- Wavelength: The distance between identical points on adjacent waves; measured from crest to crest or trough to trough.
- Amplitude: Maximum displacement from the rest position within a medium, representing half of the total wave height.
Frequency and Measurement
- Frequency: Number of waves passing a given point within a specific duration, typically measured per second.
- Hertz (Hz): A unit measuring frequency as waves per second.
- Changes in Frequency: Increasing frequency causes a decrease in wavelength.
Types of Waves
- Mechanical Waves: Require a medium (matter) for propagation.
- Electromagnetic Waves: Can travel through a vacuum and a medium; disrupt electric and magnetic fields.
- Transverse Waves: Oscillate perpendicular to the wave's travel direction.
- Longitudinal Waves: Oscillate parallel to the direction of travel.
Wave Dynamics
- Rarefaction: Section of a longitudinal wave where particles are spaced further apart.
- Compression: Part of a longitudinal wave where particles are densely packed together.
- Seismic Waves: Vibrations traveling through Earth, originating from earthquakes.
Wave Speed and Period
- Wave Speed: Distance a wave travels per second, calculated as speed = frequency x wavelength.
- Period: Time taken for one wavelength to pass a specific point, calculated using T = 1/f.
Wave Interactions
- Absorption: Energy transfer from a wave to medium molecules, often transforming energy into heat or motion; amplitude reduces and propagation may cease.
- Transmission: The ongoing movement of a wave through a medium.
- Reflection: Bouncing back of a wave upon encountering a non-permeable surface.
- Law of Reflection: The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.
- Refraction: Wave bending due to speed alterations upon entering a new medium.
- Diffraction: The bending of waves around obstacles or through openings.
Interference
- Constructive Interference: Occurs when two waves merge, resulting in increased amplitude.
- Destructive Interference: Happens when two waves combine to produce a reduced amplitude.
Resonance
- Resonance: Amplification of vibration when an external force corresponds with an object's inherent frequency.
Wave Examples
- Transverse Waves: Include water ripples, X-rays, and sunlight.
- Longitudinal Waves: Include sound waves, a compressing Slinky, and seismic waves from earthquakes.
Standing Waves
- Node: A stationary point on a standing wave that shows no oscillation.
- Antinodes: Regions of maximum oscillation on standing waves.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your understanding of wave characteristics with these flashcards. Each card provides key terms and definitions that are essential for grasping wave concepts. Perfect for students studying physics or any related field.