Physics 20- Mechanical Waves

Medium

The material in which a wave travels through

Wave

A disturbance in a medium moving out and carrying energy from the source

Equilibrium

The rest position of the medium

Crest

The high point of the wave

Trough

The low point in a wave

Amplitude

The displacement of a wave from trough to equilibrium

Cycle

One up and down motion of a wave

In phase

Parts of a wave that are experiencing the same motion as other parts of the wave

Wavelength

The distance between two in phase corresponding points

Point Source

A single point that generates a circular wave moving out from the source

Straight Line Source

An object that generates a straight wave front moving away from the source

Pulse

A single crest or trough, half a wavelength long

Wave Train

A series of continuous wave fronts moving out from a source

Wave Front

Movement of a crest or trough away from a source

Reflection

Bouncing of a wave off of a barrier

Transverse Waves

Waves in which the medium vibrates perpendicular to the motion of the waves

Longtitudinal Waves

Waves in which the medium vibrates parallel to the motion of the waves

Reflection from a fixed point

The waves reflect inverted when attached to a fixed boundary

Reflection less dense

Reflected wave is erect

Reflection dense

Reflected wave is inverted

Superposition

The sum of the displacement of two waves passing through each other

Interference

The passing of two waves travelling through the same medium

Constructive Interference

When the waves meet in phase

Destructive interference

When waves meet out of phase

Standing waves

When reflected waves pass through incident waves and move in an out of phase with each other

Nodes

Area in a standing wave where the displacement is 0

Antinodes

Areas in a standing wave where the displacement is at its max