Properties Of Waves Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is a wave?
A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place
Describe the characteristics of a longitudinal wave.
Looks like a spring. Energy moves in the same direction as the wave
Describe the characteristics of a transverse wave.
S shaped waves. Wave moves at right angles from the direction the wave travels.
The pitch of a sound depends on the wave’s?
Frequency.
What type of wave is sound? How does it travel through a medium?
Compression wave (longitudinal wave). The vibrations are passed particle to particle through the medium in the same direction as the wave.
What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?
Inverse relationship. Ex: High frequency = short wavelength or low frequency = longer wavelength.
What is the relationship between frequency and sound?
The pitch of a sound depends on a wave’s frequency , so higher frequency = higher pitch.
What is the difference between an electromagnetic and a mechanical wave?
Electromagnetic waves do not need a medium.
Explain how density is related to compressions and rarefactions in sound waves?
Differences in density cause the wave to compress or “stretch” out to create rarefactions as it moves through a medium.
