Key Points Flashcards
What is Phase Difference?
The difference in phase angle between two waves of the same frequency and wavelength, where 360 degrees represents a single whole cycle.
What is path difference?
The difference in distance travelled by the wave from a specific point (often measured in metres).
What is amplitude?
The maximum displacement in the oscillation.
What is an oscillation?
A regularly repeating motion about a central value.
What is a wave?
A disturbance that carries energy from one place to another without causing any net movement.
What is superposition?
The result of two or more waves overlapping and interacting with each other.
What is interference?
The result of two or more waves of the same type that superimpose. The resultant wave is the result of adding or subtracting all the wave’s displacements.
What is the independent Variable?
the thing you change
What is the dependant variable?
the thing you measure
what is the control variable?
the thing you keep the same
what is diffraction?
the tendency of a wave to spread out in all directions, transferring energy to its surroundings.
what is a photon?
a quantum of electromagnetic radiation, have zero mass, zero charge but have an energy value linked to their frequency.
what is a quantum?
the smallest unit that can exist independently.
What is propagation?
the direction the wave is travelling in.
what is the periodic time?
the time taken for one whole cycle on an oscillation.
