Waves Flashcards
(184 cards)
What is a progressive wave?
Vibrations through the air that carries energy from one place to another without transferring any material
How is a wave produced?
Caused by something making particles or fields oscillate at a source
What happens to the energy at the source of a wave?
It decreases as the wave transfers energy away from the source
What is reflection?
When a wave bounces back when it hits a boundary
What is refraction?
When a wave changes direction as it enters a different medium
Why does a wave change direction (refracts) when it enters a different medium?
Because the wave speeds up or slows down
What is diffraction?
When a wave spreads out as it passes through a gap or round an obstacle
What is the displacement of a wave?
How far a point on the wave has moved from it’s undisturbed position
What is the SI units of the displacement of a wave?
Metres
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The maximum displacement of a wave (e.g. distance from undisturbed position to peak or trough)
What is the SI units of the amplitude of a wave?
Metres
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The length of one whole wave cycle (e.g. distance from peak to peak or trough to trough)
What is the period of a wave?
The time taken for one whole wave cycle
What is the SI units of the wavelength of a wave?
Metres
What is the SI units of the period of a wave?
Seconds
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of whole wave cycles per second passing a given point
What is the SI units of the frequency of a wave?
Hertz
What is the phase of a wave?
A measurement of the position of a certain point along the wave cycle
What is the phase difference of a wave?
The amount by which one wave is behind another
What is the phase and phase difference of a wave measured in?
Degrees or radians as an angle or in fractions of a cycle
How do you work out the phase difference of 2 different waves?
Work out the difference between 2 identical points on each wave (e.g. the peak of both waves)
What equation links frequency and time period?
F = 1 / T
What is the wave speed?
The speed that a wave travels at
What is the equation for wave speed?
Wave speed = Frequency x Wavelength