P12 Properties of Waves Flashcards
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its rest position.
Describe the oscillations of a longitudinal wave:
Move parallel to the direction of motion/energy transfer
Define the frequency of a wave:
The number of complete waves that pass through a point in a a second
Name the regions of longitudinal waves in which the particles are a) closer together and b) spread apart:
a) Compressions and b) rarefactions
List the 3 things that can happen if a wave hits a boundary:
- Absorption
- Transmission
- Reflection
What is the equation for wave speed?
v=fλ
Define the wavelength of a wave:
The distance between 2 consecutive peaks or troughs
What 3 things can happen to waves at a boundary?
Absorption, reflection or transmission
What happens when a wave is transmitted?
It carries on travelling through a surface
Why do refractions occur?
Waves travel faster in some mediums compared to others
What does not change when a wave refracts?
The frequency, so the wavelength changes
What are wavefronts?
Imaginary lines positioned along crests/troughs perpendicular to the motion of the wave
The more optically dense a material, the _______ the wavelength of the light passing through it.
Smaller
The less optically dense a material, the _______ the wavelength of the light passing through it.
Greater
If a wave slows down at a boundary, does it bend towards or away from the normal?
Towards
