Waves Flashcards
(20 cards)
Progressive wave
Carries energy from one place to another without transferring any material
Displacement
How far a point on a wave has moved from its undisturbed position
Amplitude
Maximum magnitude of displacement from the equilibrium position
Wavelength
Distance between successive particles that are oscillating in step
Frequency
Number of cycles of oscillations per second
Transverse waves
Vibrate at right angle to the direction of energy transfer
Longitudinal wave
Vibrate along the direction of energy transfer
Polarisation
Can only happen for transverse waves
Partially polarised light
If view reflected partially polarised light through a polarising filter at the correct angle you can block unwanted glare
Principle of superposition
When two or more waves cross the resultant displacement equals the vector sum of the individuals
Path difference
Amount by which the path travelled by one wave is longer than the path travelled by the other wave
Stationary waves
Superposition of two progressive waves with the same frequency and wavelength moving in opposite directions
Node
Where amplitude of vibration is zero
Antinode
Point of maximum displacement
Factors affecting resonant frequency
Length of string
Weight of string
Looseness of string
Period
Time for each particle to complete one oscillation
Coherent
If two sources have the same wavelength and frequency and a fixed phase difference between them
Monochromatic light
Light that has the same wavelength and frequency and so is the same colour
Light diffraction pattern
Wavelength of light same side was the gap
See a bright central fringe with dark and bright fringes on either side
Snells Law
N1sin@1=n2sin@2
