Physics Unit 5 - Waves

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Cycle

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distance between two consecutive points on a wave that (from crest to crest or trough to trough)

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Oscillation

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the displacement/vibration of a wave

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Waves vocabulary

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25 Terms

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Cycle

distance between two consecutive points on a wave that (from crest to crest or trough to trough)

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Oscillation

the displacement/vibration of a wave

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Amplitude

distance from midline to crest

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Period

one wavelength in a displacement/time graph

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Wavelength

distance between two consecutive points on a wave that are in phase, such as the distance between two adjacent peaks (lambda λ) in meters (m)

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Frequency

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time

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Crest

maximum point in a transverse wave

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Trough

minimum point in a transverse wave

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Velocity Formula for a wave

v = fλ

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Transverse Wave

wave energy runs perpendicular to wave distance

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Longitudinal Wave

displacement parallel to distance

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Electromagnetic Spectrum

transverse waves (radio, visible, and gamma) where energy can be transmitted though empty space (vacuum)

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Reflection

waves bounce from smooth, flat surfaces to reflect an image (when light rays bounce back) or produce an echo (sound waves bounce back)

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Refraction

needs 2 mediums where a ray will go through the different mediums and change speed and direction because of the different densities

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Diffraction

waves going through a barrier with a gap (big or small) and change direction

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Intensity

amount of energy in a wave (decibels)

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Timbre

how well music/sound comes across in harmony (sound quality)

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Pitch

how high or low a sound is (depends on frequency + is how fast molecules vibrate)

over 20,000 Hz = ultrasonic sound

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Longitudinal vs. transverse waves

Longitudinal: displacement/direction

Transverse: displacement/time

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Mechanical vs. EM Waves

mechanical: not capable of transmitting energy through empty space

EM: can transmit energy through empty space

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Sound vs. light

Sound:

  • mechanical waves
  • require a medium to travel through (air or water)
  • longitudinal waves = particles in the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation
  • lower frequencies and bigger wavelengths

Light:

  • electromagnetic waves
  • can travel through a vacuum (empty space)
  • transverse waves = particles in the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation
  • higher frequencies and smaller wavelengths
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Colors of light

ROYGBIV

red

orange

yellow

green

blue

indigo

violet

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Usage of the different wavebands of EM Spectrum

radio waves: radios and TVs (longest wavelength)

microwaves: used for heating

infrared radiation: used for heating

visible light: narrowband of wavelengths that humans can see (ROYGBIV)

ultraviolet radiation: absorbed by/harmful for skin

X-rays: used to see through objects/bodies

gamma rays: harmful + used to treat cancer (smallest wavelength)

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Doppler Effect, when is the frequency higher? Lower? Why?

Change in frequency & pitch of a sound due to observer/sound source’s motion

frequency = higher when sound source moving towards receptor vs. lower when sound source moving away from receptor

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3 properties of sound

Intensity, Pitch, Timbre