Waves. Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is a wave?
A disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.
Define wavelength.
The distance between successive crests or troughs of a wave.
What is the formula for wave speed?
Wave speed = frequency × wavelength.
True or False: Waves can only travel through solids.
False: Waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.
What is frequency measured in?
Hertz (Hz).
What is the relationship between frequency and period?
Frequency is the inverse of the period (frequency = 1/period).
Fill in the blank: The speed of sound in air is approximately _____ m/s.
343
What type of wave requires a medium to travel?
Mechanical wave.
Define amplitude.
The maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position.
What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?
In longitudinal waves, the particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation; in transverse waves, it is perpendicular.
True or False: Light is an example of a transverse wave.
True.
What phenomenon occurs when two waves meet and combine?
Interference.
What is constructive interference?
When two waves meet in phase and combine to produce a wave of greater amplitude.
What is destructive interference?
When two waves meet out of phase and combine to produce a wave of smaller amplitude.
What is the principle of superposition?
When two or more waves overlap, the resultant displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.
What is a standing wave?
A wave that remains in a constant position and is formed by the interference of two traveling waves moving in opposite directions.
Define resonance.
The phenomenon that occurs when a system is driven at its natural frequency, resulting in a large amplitude of oscillation.
What is diffraction?
The bending of waves around obstacles and openings.
What does the Doppler effect describe?
The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.
Fill in the blank: The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately _____ m/s.
3 x 10^8
What is refraction?
The change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
What is total internal reflection?
The complete reflection of a wave back into a medium when it hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle.
What is the critical angle?
The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.
True or False: Sound waves can travel through a vacuum.
False.
