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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Definition of wave |
1. A wave is a traveling disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another. |
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Types of waves |
1. Mechanical 2. Electromagnetic |
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Define mechanical wave |
Mechanical waves are waves that require a medium (eg, sound, water, seismic, spring ) |
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Electromagnetic waves |
Can travel through a vacuum (eg, light, x-rays) |
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Transverse wave |
A wave that goes up and down perpendicular to its direction (eg, an ocean wave) |
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Longitudinal wave |
Wave oscillates in the same direction as it travels (eg, sound, spring) |
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Graphing a wave |
1. Top of the wave is called the crest. 2. Line at the centre is the resting point (the point at which the energy would stop if it were not traveling) 3. Vertical axis the amplitude of the wave 4. Horizontal axis represents time or distance |
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Amplitude |
The amplitude is the height of the wave when measured from its resting position. It is a measure of the strength of intensity of the wave (ie, in a sound wave, high amplitude would make the sound LOUDER; in an ocean wave, a higher wave is more powerful |
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Wavelength |
The distance between two corresponding back to back points in a wave (ie, crest or trough) |
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Frequency of wave |
The frequent if a wave is the number of times the wave cycles per second. It is measured in hertz |
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Period of wave |
The period of the wave is the time between crests of the wave. It is measured in seconds |
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Relationship between period and frequency |
Period and frequency are reciprocals of each other |
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Velocity of wave |
The velocity of the wave is frequency *wavelength (f*lambda) |
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Effect of medium on waves |
In a mechanical wave, the speed of the wave is affected by the medium |
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Reflection of wave |
The reflection of a wave is the bouncing back at an angle erivi of which occurs when it encounters a barrier |
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Refraction of wave |
The refraction of a wave is the change that occurs when it passes from one medium to another. This change still include : 1. A change of direction, 2. A change in wavelength, and 3. A change in speed. Example of refraction : a prism retracts light so that it is seen in a spectrum of different colors |
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Diffraction |
Diffraction is the change that occurs when a wave encubre ab obstacle and moves around it. The subsequent waves are said to be diffracted |
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Polarization |
Polarization is the alignment of a wave do that it is always in the same plane (eg, a polarizing lens) |
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Absorption |
Absorption is when a new medium absorbs part of the energy of the original wave, this changing the reflection. (eg, a medium which absorbs energy from a heat wave will become hot, and will diminish the heat of the wave that reflects away from it) |
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Interference |
Interference occurs when two waves collide. The resulting wave will have the combined amplitude of both waves. (but note: if the waves have different phases, destructive interference, where the amplitude shrinks, is possible) |
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Effect of medium on sound |
The more dense the medium, the faster the speed of sound. Thus, sound travels faster through water than sure, and faster through steel than through water. |