waves Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is a longitudinal wave?
a wave that moves in the same direction as the direction in which the particles are vibrating.
What is a transverse wave?
a wave that moves in a direction perpendicular to the way in which the particles are vibrating.
Define rest position.
the undisturbed position of particles/ field.
What is the displacement?
the distance at a point has moved from rest position
Define the peak.
the highest point above rest position.
Define trough.
the lowest point below rest position.
What is the amplitude?
the maximum displacement of a point from rest position.
What is the wavelength?
the distance covered by a full cycle of wave.
What is the time period?
the time taken by a full cycle of wave.
Wave-speed calculation.
frequency x wavelength= v= fλ
Speed calculation.
distance/ time= v= d/ t
What is the angle of incident?
angle between the normal and incident.
What is the angle of reflection?
angle between reflected ray and normal ray.
What is diffuse reflection?
reflection is scattered into different directions.
What is refraction?
the process where a wave changes speed/ direction upon entering a denser/ less dense medium.
what does and does not change when a wave enters a different medium
does- speed, wavelength
does not- frequency
what does optically dense mean
when light enters a new medium and it slows down
what is internal reflection
light speeds up when entering a less optically dense material, sometimes this means light sometimes reflects
what is total internal reflection
If angle of incidence is same as critical angle, light will travel along
boundary of 2 mediums. If angle of incidence exceeds critical angle, all light will be reflected.
what is rarefaction in sound waves
where particles are spread out
what is compression in sound waves
where particles are close together
how can sound waves travel through solids
vibrations
what range of frequencies can humans hear
20Hz- 20,000Hz
the more —– a medium is, the higher the speed of sound
rigid
