Unit 5- Waves And Light Flashcards
(48 cards)
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.
Wave
Wave
A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.
Medium
The material through which a wave travels.
The material through which a wave travels.
Medium
Longitudinal wave
Particles move back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels, or parallel to the wave.
Particles move back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels, or parallel to the wave.
Longitudinal wave
Transverse wave
Particles move perpendicularly to the direction the wave travels.
Particles move perpendicularly to the direction the wave travels.
Transverse wave
Mechanical waves
Waves that require a medium.
Waves that require a medium.
Mechanical waves
Electromagnetic waves
Are disturbances in electric and magnetic fields.
Are disturbances in electric and magnetic fields.
Electromagnetic waves
Amplitude
A measure of how far particles on the medium move away from their normal rest position.
A measure of how far particles on the medium move away from their normal rest position.
Amplitude
Wavelength
The distance over which the wave’s shape repeats.
The distance over which the wave’s shape repeats.
Wavelength
Wave period
The time required for one cycle.
The time required for one cycle.
Wave period
Frequency
Tells you how many cycles occur in an amount of time, most commonly 1 s.
Tells you how many cycles occur in an amount of time, most commonly 1 s.
Frequency
Hertz
One hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
One hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
Hertz
Wavefronts
When waves spread out in more than one dimension, the peaks can be drawn as shapes, such as circles or spheres.
When waves spread out in more than one dimension, the peaks can be drawn as shapes, such as circles or spheres.
Wavefronts
