Waves Quiz
Wave:
the motion of a disturbance that moves through matter or space
Medium:
the physical environment theough which a wave can travel
Mechanical Waves:
require a medium
Electromagnetic Waves:
DONT require a medium
Pulse Wave:
single sudden disturbance
Periodic Wave:
Motion from periodic wave source is periodic
Transverse Wave:
particles vibrate perpendicularly to the direction the wave is traveling
transverse wave equation
y= Sin x
Crests:
the highest points above the equilibrium position
troughs:
the lowest points below the equilibrium position
equilibrium position
middle line that bisects the wave
amplitude:
the distance from the quilibrium postion to a crest or trough
wave length:
distance the wave travels during one cycle
measure or wavelength:
distance between crest to crest or trough to trough
frequency of a wave:
number of waves that pass a given point in time
Period of a wave:
time required for one complete wavelength to pass a given point; reciperocal of its frequency
V:
speed of the wave
f:
frequency
upside down Y/ ~
wavelength
T:
Period
wave equation:
V= f~ = ~/T
when the wave's mechanical frequency is increased what happens to the wavelenth?
it deacreases
longitudal Waves
particles vibrste parallel to the direction the wave is traveling
what kind of wave are sound waves?
longitudal
what can longitudal waves be represented by?
sign curves; crests represent compressions, troughs represent expressions
compressions:
whwrevthe partivles of a longitudal wave are closest together
Rarefraction/Expression
When the particles are furthest apart
Superposition
Combining Waves
when waves come together, do they bounce back?
no, they combine
Constructive Interference:
2 waves traveling toward eachother are both positive or both negative
What happens to the combined constructive interference?
higher wave/larger amp
Destructive Interference:
2 waves traveling toward eachother w/ opp amp signs form a smaller amp wave
propagation
the way waves move or travel
reflection
the change of direction of a wave when it meets a boundary
inverted
wave is opposite; transverse=
turned upside down; compression turns into rarefraction
fixed boundry reflection
waves are reflected and inverted
free boundry reflection
not inverted
Standing waves:
a wave pattern that results when 2 fully identical waves travel in opposite directions and interfere
What do standing waves look like?
looks still
Nodes:
a point in a standing wave that has zero displacement (on the equilibrium) apears to be not moving
Antinodes:
halfway between 2 nodes where the max displacement occurs (on top of the bump) apears to be moving; can be +/- the equilibrium
what is the largest possible wavelenth for a standing wave?
twice the length of the spring
atanding wave frequecy
only cetain frequencies and certain wavelengths produce standing wave patterns