Longitudinal and transverse waves Flashcards
1
Q
What do waves do
A
- A wave transfers energy from one point to another without transferring matter
- This energy can be interpreted as information
2
Q
What is the amplitude of a wave
A
- The maximmum displacement of the wave from equillibrium
3
Q
What is the wavelength
A
- Distance of one entire oscillation
4
Q
What is the displacement of a wave
A
- How far the wave has oscillated from equillibrium
5
Q
What is the distance of a wave
A
- How far the wave has travelled from the starting point
6
Q
What is the frequency of a wave
A
- Number of oscillations per second
7
Q
What is the time period of a wave
A
- Time it takes for one complete oscillation
8
Q
What is the formula to find the frequency of a wave
A
- Frequency (Hz) = 1 / time period (s)
9
Q
What is the formula for the wave speed
A
- Wave speed (m/s) = frequency (Hz) X wavelength (m)
10
Q
What are the characteristics of a transverse wave
A
- Oscillations are perpendicular to direction of energy transfer
- All electromagnetic waves
- Can travel through a vacuum (light and radio)
11
Q
What are the characteristics of a longitudinal wave
A
- Oscillations are parallel to direction of energy transfer
- Compressions and refractions
- Sound waves and seismic - p waves
