Units 10-11 Flashcards
(106 cards)
Mechanical waves
Waves that move through matter.
A “disturbance” with a repeating shape.
True or False: Mechanical waves are a disturbance
True
Why are waves called disturbances?
Waves cause a disturbance or a deviation in the equilibrium of the matter they are passing through.
What continues PROPOGATING waves?
Forces attempting to restore the medium to its equilibrium position.
Without restoring forces, there would be no waves.
How many types of mechanical waves are there?
2
What are the types of mechanical waves?
Longitudinal (compression)
Transverse (shear)
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave that causes the molecules of the medium to vibrate in the SAME direction the wave is moving.
What is a transverse wave?
A wave that causes the molecules to vibrate at RIGHT ANGLES to the wave direction.
What is a compression wave?
A longitudinal wave driven by the force of pressure
What is a shear wave?
A transverse wave driven by shearing forces between molecules
What is a surface wave?
A wave that travels along the surface of a medium (like water)
True or False: Surface waves contain both longitudinal and transverse motions.
True
What kind of wave is light?
Transverse, but not shear
Example of compression wave
Sound
Why do shear waves ONLY propagate through solids?
Because when traveling through liquids, gases, and plasmas, the molecules are not rigidly bound to each other and drift away in the direction the force pushes on them.
Why do compression waves successfully pass through solids AND liquids, gases, and plasmas?
The molecules are not rigidly bound, but resist being compressed enough to provide a restoring force. They don’t drift (caused by shear forces).
What do restoring forces do?
Seek to restore equilibrium
Does the energy of the wave decrease or stay the same as it travels?
Decreases.
Crest
Places in waves of maximum forward OR upward displacement.
Upward for shear
Forward for compression
Trough
Places of maximum downward OR backward displacement.
Where are the equilibrium positions located between crests and troughs?
Halfway between them
How many properties define how particles vibrate back and forth between crest and trough?
4
What are the four properties of particle vibrations?
- Amplitude
- Wavelength
- Frequency
- Speed
Amplitude
The maximum distance a particle moves from its natural resting place.
ie. the distance between equilibrium and a crest or trough