Chapter 1 : Waves Flashcards
On transverse waves, what is the degrees of the oscillations to the direction of travel?
The oscillations of a transverse wave are at 90 degrees (perpendicular).
Name some examples of transverse waves.
Some examples are: seismic waves, light and other electromagnetic waves.
What is the wavelength?
The wavelength is the distance in meters from any point on the wave to where it is repeated in the wave.
On longitudinal waves, what are the oscillations like?
On longitudinal waves the oscillations are parallel to the direction of travel.
What is the crest/peak and where is it on the wave?
The crest/peak is the highest points in the wave so it is at the top of a wave.
What is the trough and where is it?
The trough is the lowest points in the wave so it is at the bottom tip of a wave.
What is the amplitude?
The amplitude is the maximum displacement/change in position form the ‘undisturbed point’,
Which way in the direction of travel?
The direction of travel is always right.
What are compressions?
The compressed parts to a wave in a longitudinal wave.
What are rarefactions?
Rarefactions are the stretches in the longitudinal wave between the compressions.
Name some examples of longitudinal waves.
Some examples of longitudinal waves are: sound waves, ultrasound waves and infrasound waves.
What is frequency?
The number of waves that pass in one second. It is measured in hertz, where one cycle (wave) per second is one Hz.
What is wave Speed?
The speed of the wave. Measured in m/s and this depends on the medium it is travelling through.
What are ultrasound waves?
Ultrasound waves are sound waves with a frequency higher than 20KHz.
What is infrasound?
Infrasound waves are sound waves with a frequency lower than 20Hz.
