Chapter #14 - Properties Of Waves Flashcards
What aperatus can halp us understand the properties of waves?
A ripple tank
What is the equation for individual waves?
Velocity = frequency x wavelength
What is the positions of molecules once it passes a wave along?
The molecules reman the same. A wave transfesr energy but not matter
Draw a labled wave diagram
What is the defenition of a crest/peak?
The highest point of a wave.
What is the defenition of a trough?
The lowest point of a wave
Whta is the defenition of a wavelength?
The distance between 2 adjecent crests/toughs of a wave.
What is the defenition of frequency?
The number of waves made each second or waves passing a point per second.
What is the defenition of a period?
The number of seconds it takes for each wave to pass a point.
Equation for frequency?
Frequency = 1 / period
Equation for period?
Period = 1 / frequency
What is the speed of a wave equivalent to?
The speed at which the wave transfers energy from place to place.
What does the speed of a wave depend on?
The amplitude (bigger amplitude, more energy = faster)
A wave transfers energy without transfering ……
Matter
What is defenition of a transverse wave?
A wave in which the vibration is at a right angle to the direction of propagation of the wave.
What is the defenition of a longitudinal wave?
A wave in whichthe vibration is forward and back, parellel to the direction of propagation of the wave.
What are examples of transverse waves?
- Ripples on water
- Light and other electromagnetic waves
- Secondary seismic waves (slow moving vibrations in an eartquake S-waves)
What changes when a wave passes through a different material?
The speed as well as the wavelength of the wave changes.
What are eaxamples of transverse waves?
- Sound waves
- Primmary seismic waves (fast vibrating earthquakes P-waves)
What stays the same when a wave passes through a different material?
The frequency (the number of waves produces made per second) stays the same.
How do speed and direction change when waves travel from a denser to a less dense medium?
Speed: Faster (deep => shallow)
Direction: Away from the normal
How do speed and direction change when waves travel from a less dense to a denser medium?
Speed: slower (shallow => deep)
Direction: Towards the normal
What is the deffinition of refraction?
When a wave spreads out as it travels through a gap or past the edge of an object.
When is diffraction greatest?
When the width of the gap is equal to the wave length of the waves being diffracted.
