M3 Waves & Thermodynamics Flashcards
3 Wave Classifications
- Transverse - particles oscillate/vibrate at 90 degrees to the direction of motion of the wave
Longitudinal - particles oscillate/vibrate in the same direction as the direction of the motion of the wave
Complex - combination of longitudinal and transverse motion (particles oscillate in circular/elliptical path) - Mechanical - require a medium for wave to travel through
eg sound, earthquake, water, domino wave, heat conduction, alternating current
Electromagnetic - does not require a medium
eg radio, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, xrays, gamma
* all travel at c
* all EM waves are transverse - Standing/Stationary - combination of two waves moving in opposite directions, each having the same amplitude and frequency. The phenomenon is the result of interference; that is, when waves are superimposed, their energies are either added together or canceled out.
Progressive - A wave which travels continuously in a medium in the same direction without a change in its amplitude
wave
a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without any overall movement of matter
direction of propagation
the direction in which a wave travels
Two Types Of Graphs
- Displacement-Distance
provides a “freeze frame” of the wave at a particular moment in time
- used to determine wavelength (measure with a ruler/x-axis)
- used to determine amplitude (measure with y-axis) - Displacement-Time
shows the movement of just one part of the wave over time
- used to determine period (read off x-axis)
- amplitude (read off y-axis)
graphing longitudinal waves
on a D-D graph (since we have to graph a longitudinal wave as a transverse wave) compressions become crests, rarefactions become troughs
reflection
occurs when a wave hits a boundary between two mediums and returns into the medium from which it came
- all types of waves can be reflected
the law of reflection
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
- AoI & AoR measured between the wave (incident and reflected ray) and normal
2 Types of Reflection
Specular: when a wave reflects from a plane surface
- parallel rays reflect in the same direction
- can produce a reflected image
Diffuse: when a wave reflects from a rough surface
- rays are reflected in different directions
- parallel rays reflect in different directions
- cannot produce an image
refraction
a change in wave direction when the wave changes speed (through transition in medium)
- if a wave slows down, bend toward normal
- if a wave speeds up, bend away from normal
diffraction
occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle/aperture
- can results in various patterns being produced in the region behind the obstacle
- diffraction is a property of all waves (one of the reasons why we know light acts like a wave)
- diffraction patterns are closely linked to wave superposition
wave superposition
adding together two or more waves as they pass through each other
constructive interference
when the waves add together to produce a bigger amplitude
destructive interference
when the waves cancel to produce a smaller (or zero) amplitude
standing wave
caused when a wave meets its reflection, producing an oscillating but otherwise stationary wave
- created when 2 progressive waves travelling in different directions superpose
–> so the resultant wave has some points fixed and some points oscillating at max amplitude
- fixed points are called nodes
- points oscillating at max amplitude are antinodes
driving force
any force that adds to the oscillation
resonance
occurs in oscillating systems
- can produce large amplitudes from relatively small driving forces
- if the driving force has the correct frequency, it will cause the system to oscillate with a greater amplitude (the system is resonating)
damping
any forces that reduces the amplitude of an oscillation
natural frequency
the frequency at which a system will naturally oscillate in the absence of any driving or damping forces
driving frequency
the frequency of the force driving the oscillating system (not all systems have a driving force)
you get resonance when
the driving frequency equals the natural frequency
energy transformation and transfer in an oscillating system
- energy in a pendulum oscillates between kinetic and potential
- damping (friction) removes energy (usually to heat) so amplitude of the oscillations will get smaller
- a driving force adds energy back into the system
energy is transferred in a mechanical wave because…
… particle interactions are elastic, so kinetic energy is transferred along with momentum
we see a mirror image of ourselves in a mirror because…
… light rays preserve their order, according to the orientation of our eyes when they reflect off a mirror
parabolas have the property that…
all light rays emanating from the focus will form a parallel beam