Waves Overview Quiz

The maximum displacement of particles in a medium from their equilibrium position. It represents the peak height of a wave.

The argument of the sine function in a wave equation (kx - ωt + φ). It determines the displacement of the wave at any point in space and time.

The phase of a wave at x = 0 and t = 0. It indicates the starting point of a wave's oscillation.

The point of maximum positive displacement in a wave. It's the 'peak' of the wave.

The point of maximum negative displacement in a wave. It's the 'valley' of the wave.

A disturbance that travels through a medium, transferring energy without transporting matter.

A wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Think of a wave on a rope.

A wave in which the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. Think of a sound wave traveling through air.

The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave, representing one full cycle.

The number of complete wave cycles passing a point in one second.

The speed at which a wave propagates through a medium.

The combined effect of two or more waves overlapping in a medium.

The bouncing back of a wave when it encounters a boundary between two media.

A mathematical concept that represents the shape and movement of a wave. It's a function that describes how the displacement of a point on a wave varies with time and position.

The angular frequency of a wave, measured in radians per second. It determines how quickly the wave oscillates.

The angular wave number of a wave, measured in radians per meter. It determines the spatial frequency of oscillations.

The initial phase of a wave, influencing its position at time zero.

A wave traveling in the positive direction of the x-axis.

A wave traveling in the negative direction of the x-axis.

Describes a wave that has a sinusoidal shape, meaning its displacement varies like a sine function.

A fixed point on a wave that maintains a constant phase over time.

The speed at which a fixed phase point on a wave moves in the direction of wave propagation.

The equation that describes the relationship between wave speed (v), wavelength (λ), and frequency (ν).

A wave's speed is determined by the properties of the medium through which it travels.

The mathematical relationship between angular frequency (ω) and period (T), representing the time taken for one complete cycle of oscillation.

The mathematical relationship between wavelength (λ) and wave number (k), representing the spatial frequency of the wave.

The equation that relates wave speed (v), angular frequency (ω), and wave number (k), showing how these parameters are interconnected.

The distance travelled by a wave during one period (T) is equal to the wavelength (λ).

A quantity used to describe the mass per unit length of a string or wire.

The force that pulls on the ends of a string or wire, keeping it taut.

The speed at which a wave travels along a stretched string. It depends on the tension and the linear mass density of the string.

The ability of a material to resist compression. It quantifies how much pressure is needed to change the volume of a substance.

The speed at which a longitudinal wave travels through a medium. It depends on the bulk modulus and the density of the medium.

A process used to determine relationships between physical quantities by analyzing their dimensions. It can't determine exact formulas, but can help identify possible relationships.

A constant that is often undetermined by dimensional analysis. It accounts for factors not captured by simply analyzing dimensions.

The adiabatic bulk modulus is a measure of how resistant a substance is to compression under adiabatic conditions. It's the ratio of the change in pressure to the fractional change in volume under constant entropy.

The speed of sound in an ideal gas is proportional to the square root of the ratio of the adiabatic bulk modulus to the density of the gas.

For an ideal gas, the adiabatic bulk modulus is equal to γ times the pressure, where γ is the adiabatic index (the ratio of specific heats Cp/Cv).

Laplace correction refers to the correction made to Newton's original formula for the speed of sound in air by incorporating the adiabatic bulk modulus instead of the isothermal bulk modulus.

The principle of superposition states that when two or more waves overlap, the net displacement at any point is the algebraic sum of the displacements due to each individual wave

When two wave pulses traveling in opposite directions cross each other, the principle of superposition applies. Each pulse moves as if the other is not present, and the resultant displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

The net displacement of two overlapping wave pulses can be positive, negative, or zero depending on the relative amplitudes and directions of each pulse.

The equation y(x,t) = y1(x,t) + y2(x,t) represents the net displacement y of two wave disturbances y1 and y2 in a medium, according to the principle of superposition.