Waves Flashcards
wavelength
distance between the same points on two consecutive waves
amplitude
distance from equilibrium line to the maximum displacement (crest or trough)
frequency
number of waves that pass a single point per second
period
time taken for a whole wave to completely pass a single point
velocity =
velocity = frequency x wavelength
period =
period = 1/ frequency
increase frequency…
velocity increases
wavelength increases…
velocity increases
period is inversely/ directly proportional to frequency?
inversely
smaller period…
higher frequency, greater velocity
Transverse waves
- have peaks and troughs
- vibrations are at right angles to direction of travel
- e.g. light or any electromagnetic wave
Longitudinal waves
- have compressions and rarefactions
- vibrations are in the same direction as the direction of travel
- e.g. sound waves
measuring velocity: sound in air
- make a noise 50m from a solid wall, record time for the echo to be heard
- calc using speed=distance/time
OR - have two microphones connected to a datalogger at a large distance apart, record time difference between a sound passing one to the other
- calc using speed = distance/time
measuring velocity: ripples on water surface
- use a stroboscope (same frequency as water waves), measure distance between the ‘fixed rippes’
- calc using wave speed=frequency x wavelength
OR - move a pnecil along the paper at the same speed as a wavefront, measure the time taken to draw this line
- calc using speed=distance/time
waves can be…
refracted, reflected, absorbed or transmitted
reflection
- waves will reflect off a flat surface
- the smoother the surface, the stronger the reflection
- rough surfaces scatter the light so they appear not reflective
angle of incidence
angle of reflection
transmission
- waves will pass through a transparent material
- the more transparent, the more light will pass through
- it can still refract, but the process of passing through the material and still emerging is transmission
absorption
- if the frequency of light matches the energy levels of the electrons then the light will be absorbed by the electrons (and not reemitted)
- eventually they will be reemitted over time as heat
sound waves
- can travel through solids causing vibrations in it
- the outer ear collects the sounds and channels it down the ear canal as a pressure air wave
- the sound wave hits the ear drum
sound waves-once it hits the ear drum
- tightly stretched membrane which vibrates as the incoming pressure waves reach it
1. compression forces the eardrum inward and rarefaction forces the ear drum outwork due to pressure
2. the eardrum (and small bones connected) vibrate at the same frequency as the sound wave
3. vibrations of the bones transmitted to the fluid in the inner ear and compression waves are transferred to the fluid (in the cochlea)
4. the small bones act as an amplifier
5. as the fluid moves (bc of compression waves) the small hairs lining the cochlea move too, so when a certain frequency is recieved, the hair attuned to that frequency moves a lot
6. this releases an electrical impulse to the brain, interpreting this as a sound
humans cant hear below… or above… because
cant hear below 20Hz or above 20kHz because the hairs in the cochlea attuned to high frequencies die or get damaged (bc of loud noises, changes in inner ear, smoking, chemotherapy, diabetes etc)
Ultrasound
- when ultrasound reaches a boundary between two meida, they are partially reflected back
- the remainder of the waves continue and pass through + are refracted
- so a reciever next to the emitter can record the reflected waves
Ultrasound def
sounds higher than 20kHz (humans can’t hear)