Waves

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Physics AS - Waves
sophie_burke
Flashcards by sophie_burke, updated more than 1 year ago
sophie_burke
Created by sophie_burke over 10 years ago
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Question Answer
Electromagnetic waves Vibrating electric and magnetic fields that progress through space without the need for substance
Longitudinal waves Waves in which the direction of the vibration of the particles are parallel to the direction in which the wave travels
Transverse waves Waves in which the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels
Displacement A vibrating particles distance and direction from its equilibrium position
Amplitude Maximum displacement of a vibrating particle. In transverse waves it is the height of a wave crest or depth of a wave trough from the middle
Wavelength Distance between adjacent crests
One complete cycle of a wave From one wave peak to the next
Period Time for one complete wave to pass a fixed point
Frequency Number of complete waves passing a point per second. Unit: Hertz (Hz)
Phase difference The fraction of a cycle between the vibration of two particles, measured in either degrees or radians
Wavefronts Waves that are observed in a ripple tank
Reflection Straight waves directed at a certain angle to a hard flat surface reflect off at the same angle
Refraction When waves pass across a boundary at which the wave speed changes, the wavelength also changes. If the wave fronts are at a non-zero angle to the boundary, they change direction as well as changing speed
Diffraction Waves spread out after passing through a gap or round an object. The narrower the gap or the longer the wavelength, the more the wave spread out
Principle of superposition When two waves meet, the total displacement at a point is equal to the sum of the individual displacements at that point
Supercrest When a crest meets a crest, the two waves reinforce each other
Supertrough Where a trough meets a trough and they reinforce each other
When a trough meets a crest Resultant displacement is zero; the two waves cancel each other out
Stationary waves Formed on a rope if two people send waves continuously along the rope from either end, the ends are fixed points
Progressive waves The sets of waves sent to form a stationary wave
Nodes Points of no displacement
Interference The effect of waves constantly passing through each other creating cancellation and reinforcement
Pitch Corresponds to frequency. Raising the tension or shortening the length (of a string on a guitar) increases the pitch, lowering the tension or increasing the length lowers the pitch
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