Waves

Created by

Kyra

Cards (23)

What way do longitudinal waves travel?
Vibrations are parallel to the direction of wave travel
What way do transverse waves travel?
Vibrations are at right angles to the direction of wave travel
what do mechanical waves produce?
Oscillations of particles in a solid, liquid or a gas - must have a medium to travel through
what do electromagnetic waves cause?
oscillations in electrical and magnetic fields
What is the rest position of a wave?
the undisturbed position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating
What is displacement?
the distance that a certain point in the medium has moved from its rest position
what is the amplitude?
the maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position
what is a time period?
the time taken for a full cycle of the wave - usually trough to trough or peak to peak
what is the frequency?
the number of waves passing a point each second
what is the wavelength?
distance between the same points on two consecutive waves
what is the equation for velocity?
frequency x wavelength
what is the equation for a period?
1/frequency
what is frequency measured in?
hertz
If you increase frequency, what else increases?
velocity increases
If you increase wavelength, what else increases?
velocity
What is the relationship between periods and frequecy?
inversely proportional
what happens if you have a small period?
high frequency and greater velocity
What happens when a wave hits a flat surface?
it is reflected
the smoother the surface?
the stronger the reflected wave is
what do rough surfaces do to waves?
scatters the light in all directions, so they appear matt and not reflective
what does the angle of incidence equal?
angle of incidence = angle of reflection
What happens if the object is opaque?
the light will reflect and is not absorbed by the material, as electrons absorb the light energy and reemit it as a reflected wave
What will waves do to a transparent material? 
pass through