Wave terminology

Question 1

Why does a wave travel from one place to another

Answer 1

Because a disturbance has caused particles in a material to be displaced.

Question 2

What happens to particles when a disturbance occurs to eg. water wave

Answer 2

The particles closest to the initial disturbance get displaced first and this causes adjacent particles to do the same, slightly later.

This is repeated until the disturbance reaches its final point.

Question 3

Define wavelength and symbol and units

Answer 3

Wavelength of a wave is the distance between two successive identical points that have the same pattern of oscillation.

Lamda

metres

Question 4

Define Time period and unit

Answer 4

The period of a wave is the time it takes for one complete pattern of oscillation to take place at any point.

eg. time taken for one peak to another peak

T symbol

seconds unit

Question 5

Define frequency, give symbol and unit

Answer 5

The frequency of a wave is the number of oscillations per unit time at any point and is related to the time period T by the equation F = 1/T

eg. if time period T = 10s

F = 1/10 = 0.1Hz so 0.1 oscillations every second

Question 6

Define displacement, and unit

Answer 6

The distance any part of the wave has moved from its mean position

it can be negative or positive

metres

Question 7

Define amplitude

Answer 7

this is the maximum displacement

ie. distance from a peak or trough to the mean position

Question 8

Define phase difference , give units and sumbol

Answer 8

The difference between the displacements of particles along a wave (measured in radians/degrees) for 1 complete cycle.

P symbol

Radians unit

Question 9

what is antiphase

Answer 9

When 2 particles are oscillating with a phase differece of 1 pie radiands, it is said to be they are in antiphase as its exactly by 180 degrees.