waves Flashcards
(72 cards)
what are transverse waves with example
when oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer (direction of the wave)
ripples on water
what are longitudinal waves with example
oscillations are parallel to direction of energy transfer, must travel in a medium (state)
sound waves travelling through air
what do you call the vibrations of waves
oscillations
what do you call it when the regions where air particles are close together vs when air particles are spaced out
compressions
rarefactions
what do particles transfer in a wave
energy, NOT the particles themselves
what is amplitude
maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position (middle line)
what is wavelength and how is it measured
distance between the equivalent points on two adjacent waves
what is wavelength and how is it measured
distance between the equivalent points on two adjacent waves
what is frequency and what is it measured in
number of complete waves passing a point per second
hertz (1Hz = 1 wave per second)
what is the period of a wave
time (s) for a complete wave to pass a point
what is wave speed
speed (m/s) that energy is transferred
how to measure speed of sound waves
• B stand set distance from 15 random students, further the better as longer distance = longer time, meaning easier to start and stop timers
• students start timer when B clashes cymbals, stop the timer when they hear it
• calculate speed (distance/time taken) then find mean
how to measure speed of water ripples
• place a piece of paper with a ruler alongside below a ripple tank and a lamp above
• turn on lamp and dipper of the tank
• take a photo of shadows and ruler and measure distance of 10 wavelengths, then divide by 10 to get 1 wavelength (in m)
• place timer next to paper and mark a point on paper
• count waves passing a point in 10 seconds, divide by 10 to find 1 second. if too fast, record and slow down
wavelength x frequency = speed :)
how to measure speed of waves in solid
- connect a signal generator to a vibration generator
- attach string to vibration generator, loop around a pulley and hang a mass on other end to keep string taut
- turn on power and adjust frequency on signal generator until there are clear wavelengths
- measure all half-wavelengths, divide by number of half-wavelengths, then times by 2 to get 1 wavelength
- calculate wave speed
what can happen when a wave hits a boundary of a different material
depending on wavlength and material:
• absorbed: energy transfers to material’s energy stores
• transmitted: travels through & often refracts
• reflected
how do draw ray diagram for reflection
• draw ray striking surface (incident ray) with arrow
• draw dotted line perpendicular to surface (the normal)
• measure angle (angle of incidence)
• angle of reflection = angl of incidence
• draw ray leaving surface (reflected ray) with arrow
specular vs diffuse rays
spec: single direction, smooth surface
diff: scattered, rough surface, matte
how to investigate reflection by different surfaces and refraction by different substances
• draw straight line down centre of a3
• draw the normal using protractor
• place glass block against first line, normal at the centre
• draw around block
• turn off lights and direct ray box at the normal
• mark the incident & reflected ray and the ray leaving block, known as the transmitted ray, with crosses
• remove block and use ruler to draw rays. connect normal to transmitted ray to show path
• use protractor to find angle of incidence/reflection and angle of refraction (normal ray & path)
• repeat with range of material e.g plastics
results of reflection & refraction light practical
- angle of incidence = angl of reflection for all objects
- not dependent on material
- angle of refraction - different for all objects
- dependent on density of material
how does sound travel
vibration of source, causes air to move in a series of compressions and rarefactions. this is a sound wave (longitudinal)
vibrations can pass through mediums
how do we hear and to what extent
sound waves hit ear drum, a thin membrane, causing it and other parts of inner ear to vibrate and create electrical signals that allow the sensation of sound
20 - 20 000 Hz as other frequencies may not cause eardrum to vibrate
speed of sound in different states
fastest in solids as vibrations pass easier through closer particles
slowest in gas
what is reflection and refraction of sound waves
reflection: echos
refraction: waves refract in different mediums, so wave speed changes as ws = wl x hz
how does the wave on cathode ray oscilloscope change with pitch and how does it change with volume
high pitch: high frequncy (more waves)
low pitch: smaller frequency
quiet: smaller amplitude
loud: bigger amplitude