wave behaviour

Created by

Arshini Gandra

Cards (35)

What is amplitude in a wave?
The distance from undisturbed position to peak
What is wavelength in a wave?
The distance between two identical points
How is wavelength measured in a transverse wave?
From one peak to the next peak
How is wavelength measured in a longitudinal wave?
From center of one compression to next
What is frequency in wave terms?
The number of waves passing a point per second
What is the time period of a wave?
The time taken for a single wave to pass
How is frequency calculated from time period?
Frequency = 1 / time period
How is wave speed calculated?
Wave speed = frequency x wavelength
What happens to wave speed when frequency increases?
Wave speed increases
What happens to wave speed when wavelength increases?
Wave speed increases
How is time period related to frequency?
Time period is inversely proportional to frequency
What are the characteristics of transverse waves?
Have peaks and troughs
Vibrations are perpendicular to energy transfer
Examples: light, electromagnetic waves, water ripples
Can move in solids and liquid surfaces, not in gases
Electromagnetic waves can move in solids, liquids, gases, and vacuum
What are the characteristics of longitudinal waves?
Have compressions and rarefactions
Vibrations are parallel to energy transfer
Example: sound waves
Transfer energy, not particles of the medium
Can move in solids, liquids, and gases, but not in vacuum
How does the density of a medium affect sound wave speed?
Sound travels fastest in solids
What changes occur when sound waves move from one medium to another?
Changes in wave speed, frequency, and wavelength
What is refraction in sound waves?
Change in velocity causing change of direction
What happens to sound waves moving from a denser to a less dense medium?
Wavelength decreases, frequency stays the same
What happens to sound waves moving from a less dense to a denser medium?
Wavelength increases, frequency stays the same
How does temperature affect the speed of sound in air?
Speed increases on warm days
What happens to sound waves in the human ear?
They are transferred from air to solid components
What are the two main solid components of the human ear?
The eardrum and three small bones
How does the eardrum respond to sound waves?
It vibrates due to pressure variations
What is the role of the cochlea in hearing?
Detects sound and sends messages to the brain
What is the range of frequencies a human can hear?
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
How does aging affect human hearing?
Reduces ability to hear high frequencies
What happens to the cochlea's hairs as a person ages?
Shorter hairs stop responding to high frequencies
What is the method for measuring wave properties in a ripple tank experiment?
Set up apparatus and fill tank with water (1 cm deep)
Turn on power supply and light source
Measure wavelength using a ruler and wavefronts
Determine frequency by timing waves passing a point
Record frequency and wavelength, repeat measurements
What can happen to a wave at a boundary between two materials?
Reflected
Absorbed
Transmitted
What is the law of reflection?
The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection
What factors affect the strength of a reflected wave?
Smoother surfaces produce stronger reflections
What occurs during transmission of a wave?
The wave passes through a substance and emerges
What happens to a wave's amplitude during transmission?
It may decrease due to absorption
What occurs during absorption of a wave?
Energy is transferred to the particles of a substance
How does light absorption relate to color perception?
Only reflected light determines color appearance
What does it mean if an object appears red?
Only red light has been reflected