wave basics

Created by

jay sharma

Cards (26)

what do waves transfer
energy and information
what are the 2 types of waves
transverse , longitudinal
what is a transverse wave
a wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
what is a longitudinal wave
a wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
give 2 examples of transverse waves
electromagnetic waves , seismic s waves
give to examples of longitudinal waves
sound waves , seismic p waves
what are the 2 parts of a longitudinal wave called
compressions and rarefactions
what are the 2 parts of a transverse wave called
peaks and troughs
what is a waves amplitude
the maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position
what is wavelength  
the distance from a point on a wave to the same position on an adjacent wave , most commonly from peak to peak or trough to trough
what is the frequency of a wave
the number of waves that pass a point in a given second
what is the unit used for frequency
hertz , hz
what is meant by a frequency of 200hz 
200 waves pass a given point each second
what is wave speed
the speed at which energy is transferred through a medium
what does wave transfer
energy
what is wave velocity
wave velocity ( measured in m./s) is equal to the product of the wavelength and frequency of the wave
state the equation used to calculate wave speed
wave speed = frequency x wavelengt
what is meant by the period of the wave
the length of time it takes for one full wave to pass through a point
what word is used to describe when a wave bounces off a surface
reflection
what is the normal (in terms of reflection and refraction)
a vertical imaginary line which is perpendicular to the boundary
what occurs when light is reflected off a boundary
it bounces of a smooth flat surface so the angle of incidence is the same as the angle of refraction
what is the angle of incidence 
the angle it comes in at
what is the angle of reflection  
the angle it leaves at
what is refraction 
refraction is the change in speed of a wave as it reaches a boundary between 2 media , usually resulting in a change in direction( if it enters at an amgle) , depending how thick the new media is
what occurs when light is refracted at a boundary
the light changes speed and direction in the new medium , if the new medium is more dense , it will travel slower and bend towards the medium , if the new medium is less dense , it will travel faster and move away from the medium
what happens to wavelength as you enter a new medium
is increases or decreases depending on density