Chapter 5 Waves Flashcards
definition of Waves
a disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a medium
mechanical wave definition and example
def: a wave that is an oscillation of matter and is responsible for the transfer of energy through a medium.
ex: longitudinal and transverse
definition and example of transverse wave
def: a wave vibrating at right angles to the direction of its propagation.
ex: vibrations on a guitar string and the ripples on the ocean
definition and example of longitudinal wave
def: waves where the disturbance moves in the same direction as the wave.
ex: sound waves, and ultrasound waves
definition and example of a wave pulse
def: a sudden disturbance in which only one wave or a few waves are generated
ex: a pebble dropped into water
definition of crest
the highest point in a wave
definition and of trough
the lowest point in a wave
definition of wavelength
The distance between crest to crest or trough to trough
definition of amplitude
distance between the resting position and the maximum displacement of the wave.
definition of frequency
the number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time
definition of period
the interval of time it takes for a motion to repeat.
definition and example of superposition
the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured.
definition and example of interference
def: the net effect of the combination of two or more wave trains moving on intersecting or coincident paths.
ex: light reflected from a film of oil floating on water.
definition of constructive interference
when two waves overlap in such a way that they combine to create a larger wave
definition of destructive interference
when two waves overlap in such a way that they cancel each other out.
definition and example of natural frequency
def: the frequency or rate that it vibrates naturally when disturbed
ex: tuning fork
definition and example of resonance
def: a phenomenon that occurs when the matching vibrations of another object increase the amplitude of an object’s oscillations.
ex: a rattle
definition of a standing wave
A standing wave occurs when two waves of the same frequency and amplitude are moving in opposite directions and interfere with each other.
definition of antinode
points of maximum displacements (at crests and toughs) from the mean position
definition of a node
the points that have no displacement from the equilibrium position.
definition of reflection
when light or sound bounces off of an object
definition of ray
The light traveling in any one direction in a straight line
definition and example of refraction
def: the bending of light (it also happens with sound, water, and other waves) as it passes from one transparent substance into another
ex: a straw looking bent when in a glass of water
definition of angle in incident
The angle between the normal and the ray of light
