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13 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is a Wave? |
Waves are vibrations that transfer energy from place to place without matter (solid, liquid or gas) being transferred. |
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What is a transverse wave? |
In transverse waves, the oscillations (vibrations) are at right angles to the direction of travel and energy transfer |
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Give examples of transverse waves. |
Light and other types of electromagnetic radiation are transverse waves.
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What is a Longitudinal wave? |
In longitudinal waves, the oscillations are along the same direction as the direction of travel and energy transfer. |
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Give examples of longitudinal waves. |
Sound waves and waves in a stretched spring are longitudinal waves. P waves (relatively fast moving longitudinal seismic waves that travel through liquids and solids) are also longitudinal waves. |
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Can sound waves travel in a vacuum? |
No - they need a medium to travel through. |
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Can electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum? |
Yes - thay can travel through a vaccuum and space. |
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Ho ware transverse and longitudinal waves different? |
Transverse waves have the oscillations perpendicular to the direction of transfer of energy. Longitudinal waves have the oscillations parallel to the direction of transfer of energy. |
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Explain what is meant by the words ‘compression’ and ‘rarefaction’. |
‘Compressions’ and ‘rarefactions’ occur in longitudinal waves; a compression is where the particles are squashed together and a rarefaction is where they are spread apart; they are places where the particles in the wave have the maximum displacement from their rest position. |
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Explain what is meant by the words ‘crest’ and ‘trough’. |
‘Crests’ and ‘troughs’ occur in transverse waves; a crest is where the particles are at a maximum displacement above the rest position and a trough is where the particles are at a maximum displacement below the rest position. |
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After an explosion all the windows in a nearby building are broken. How did this happen? |
A Shock waves produced by the explosion travel out from the explosion; the particles of the air are set in motion in longitudinal waves; the waves transfer energy from the explosion to the windows. |
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Describe and explain the similarities and differences between sound waves and light waves. |
Sound and light are both waves and both transfer energy. Sound waves are longitudinal waves but light waves are transverse waves. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum, it needs a medium to travel in but light can travel through a vacuum/empty space. Sound can travel through solids, liquids and gases. Light can travel through some solids, liquids and gases (those that are transparent) but not others (those that are opaque). Sound is oscillations of particles in solids, liquids or gases. Light is oscillations of an electric/magnetic field. Sound has a longer wavelength than light. Both sound and light can be reflected, refracted and diffracted. |
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What are the key points to remember? |
Waves transfer energy. Waves do not transfer matter. In longitudinal waves the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer. In transverse waves the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer. Longitudina lwaves have compressions and rarefactions. Transverse waves have crests and troughs. Sound waves are longitudinal. Electromagnetic waves are transverse. Mechanical waves can be transverse or longitudinal. |
