3b: Properties of waves

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43 Terms

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waves
a way of transferring energy from place to place without matter by oscillations about a fixed point
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two types of waves
- longitudinal
- transverse
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transverse waves
waves where the points along its length vibrate at 90 degrees to the direction of energy transfer
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features of transverse waves
- have peaks and troughs
- vibrate 90 degrees to the direction of energy transfer
- transfer energy but not particles
- cannot move in gas
- electromagnetic waves can move in a vacuum
- constant density and pressure
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peak/crest
highest point on the wave above the rest position
highest point on the wave above the rest position
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trough
lowest point on the wave below the rest position
lowest point on the wave below the rest position
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transverse waves - 4 examples
- ripples on water
- vibrations in a guitar string
- s-waves
- EM waves
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longitudinal waves
waves where the points along its length vibrate parallel to the direction of energy transfer
waves where the points along its length vibrate parallel to the direction of energy transfer
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features of longitudinal waves
- have compressions and rarefactions
- parallel to direction of energy transfer
- transfer energy but not particles
- move in all 3 states of matter
- cannot move in a vacuum
- changes in density and pressure
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compressions
close together
close together
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rarefaction
far apart
far apart
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longitudinal waves - 3 examples
- sound waves
- p-waves
- pressure waves
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amplitude (A)
distance from the undisturbed position to the peak or trough of a wave
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unit for amplitude
metres
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wavelength
distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave
distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave
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wavelength - transverse waves
measured from one peak to the next peak
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wavelength - longitudinal waves
measured from the centre of one compression to the centre of the next
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symbol for wavelength
λ (lambda)
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unit for wavelength
metres
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frequency (f)
number of waves passing a point in a second
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unit for frequency
hertz (Hz)
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time period (T)
time taken for a single wave to pass a point
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unit for time period
seconds
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wavefronts
created by overlapping lots of different waves and represented by a line where all the vibrations are in phase and the same distance from the source
created by overlapping lots of different waves and represented by a line where all the vibrations are in phase and the same distance from the source
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wavefront - ray
arrow showing the direction the wave is moving
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wavefront - wavelength
space between each wavefront
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wavefronts close together
short wavelength
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wavefronts far apart
long wavelength
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relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave
wave speed = frequency x wavelength
wave speed = frequency x wavelength
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unit for wave speed
m/s
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relationship between frequency and time period
frequency = 1/ timeperiod
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1 kHz to Hz
1 kHz = 1000 Hz
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doppler effect
change in wavelength and frequency of a wave emitted by a moving source
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doppler effect - wave source moving towards the observer
- observed frequency increases
- observed wavelength decreases
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doppler effect - wave source moving away from the observer
- observed frequency decreases
- observed wavelength increases
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reflection
a wave hits a boundary between two media and does not pass through, but instead stays in the original medium
a wave hits a boundary between two media and does not pass through, but instead stays in the original medium
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refraction
a wave passes a boundary between two different transparent media and undergoes a change in direction
a wave passes a boundary between two different transparent media and undergoes a change in direction
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sound waves
vibration of air molecules
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what happens to a sound wave when it comes into contact with a solid
vibrations transfer to the solid
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are sound waves longitudinal or transverse
longitudinal
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reflection of sound waves
echo
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electromagnetic waves
transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the waves to an absorber
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properties of EM waves
- transverse
- travel through a vacuum at the same speed