waves Flashcards
(24 cards)
what are waves?
waves transfer energy from one place to another
whats the formula to calculate the speed of a wave?
D=St
whats D?
-distance
-measured in m
whats S?
-speed
-measured in ms-1
Whats t?
-time
-measured in s
whats wavelength?
-The distance between a point on one wave to the corresponding point on the next wave.
-lambda
-measured in m
whats speed (wave characteristic)?
The distance a wave travels in one second
whats frequency (wave characteristic)?
-The number of waves which pass a point in one second.
-Hz
Whats amplitude (wave characteristic)?
-The height of the wave measured from the centre to the top of the crest, or bottom of the trough.
-bigger amplitude= more energy wave carries
-meters
whats period (wave characteristic)?
time taken to produce a single wave
How do you calculate the frequency of waves?
f=N/t
whats a transverse wave?
the particles of the wave vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave
what are examples of transverse waves?
-water waves
-EM spectrum
Whats a longitudinal wave?
particles vibrate along the same line as the direction of the wave
example of longitudinal wave?
sound
why can sound not travel through space?
sounds cant pass through vacuums as they need particles to pass their vibration through
whats the speed of sound in air?
340 ms-1
whats the speed of light in air?
300,000,000 ms-1
whats an oscilloscope?
shows whether a sound wave is loud or quiet, or has a high or low
frequency
how do you detect loud sounds (oscilloscope)?
The greater the height of the wave pattern, the louder the sound.
how do you detect high or low frequency (oscilloscope)?
The greater the number of waves, the greater the frequency or pitch.
whats a human hearing frequency?
20-20,000Hz
whats sound measured in?
decibels
what is diffraction?
-the spreading of waves through or around an object
-longer wavelengths diffract more than shorter wavelengths
