Studied by 4 peopleA pulse
A single disturbance in a medium
Transverse pulse
Pulse in which the particles of the medium move at right angle to the direction of motion of the pulse.
Pulse speed
The distance that the pulse travels per unit time.
Amplitude
Maximum disturbance of a particle from its rest position
Disturbance
The displacement of a particle from its rest position.
Principle of superposition
The algebraic sum of the amplitudes of two pulses that occupy the same space at the same time.
Constructive interference
The phenomenon where the crest of one pulse overlaps with the crest of another to produce a pulse of increased amplitude.
Destructive interference
Phenomenon where the crest of one pulse overlaps with the trough of another, resulting in a pulse of decreased amplitude
Transverse wave
Wave in which the particles of a medium vibrate at right angles to the direction of motion of the wave.
succession of transverse pulses
Wavelength (λ)
Distance between two successive points in phase
Frequency (f)
Number of wave pulses per second. Measured in Hertz.
Period
Time taken for one complete wave pulse.
Points in phase
Are separated by a whole number multiple of complete wave lengths.
Wave speed
Distances travelled by a pint on a wave per unit time.
Longitudinal wave
Wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of motion of the wave.
A compression
Region of high pressure in a longitudinal wave
A rarefaction
Region of low pressure in a longitudinal wave
Wave speed of longitudinal wave
The speed at which compressions and rarefactions move through the medium. The more closely packed the medium the faster it travels.
Sound waves
Longitudinal waves created by vibration in a medium in the direction of propagation.
Pitch
The degree of highness or lowness of a sound. Depends on frequency, higher frequency = higher pitch
Loudness
Measurement of how much energy is transported by a wave. Depends on the amplitude of the wave, greater amplitude = louder sound.
Quality of sound
Has to do with the wave form. The clearer the wave form, the clearer the qulity of sound.
Tone
Measure of the quality of a sound wave
The dual nature of electromagnetic radiation
Called the wave-particle duality. Light sometimes shows wave like behavior (diffraction, interference and polarization) at other times it behaves like a stream of particles (photoelectric effect and the formation of line spectra)
Properties of electromagnetic waves
Originate from accelerating electric charges. Propagate as electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other. Can travel through a vacuum.
Photon
Packet of energy found in light energy. Energy is directly proportional to the frequency of the wave and inversely proportional to its wavelength.
Electrostatics
Study of static electricity or charges at rest.
Polarisation
The partial or complete polar separation of positive and negative electric charges in a system
Induced polarisation
Obtained with the help of an external charge. Not permanent.
Principle of Charge Quanitisation
All charges in the universe consist of an integer multiple of the charge of an electron.
Law of Conservation
The net charge of an isolated system remains constant during any physical process.
Electric field
Area in space in which a charged object experiences a force.
Potential difference (V)
Energy transferred per unit electric charge flowing through it.
EMF
Total amount of electrical energy that a battery can supply. Equal to the potential difference measure across the terminals of a battery.
Terminal potential difference
Voltage measured across the terminals of the battery when charges are flowing through the circuit.
Current strength (I)
The rate of flow of charge, Measured in Ampere (A). The amount of current that passes a point in one second.
Charge (Q)
Energy transferred in a conductor in one second if the current is one ampere. Measured in Coulomb (C).
Ohm's law
The potential difference across a conductor is directly proportional to the current in the conductor at constant temperature. Temperature stays constant.
Resistance (R)
The ratio of potential difference across an electric component of the current through the component.
Factors that influence resistance
The type of material. Length. Thickness. Temperature.
Series circuits
Ammeter reading is the same everywhere. Potential difference across each resistance can be different, but the sum of the potential difference across each resistor equals the potential difference across the battery.
Parallel circuits
Current splits when it reaches the parallel connection. Value of the current through each resistor depends on its resistance. Potential difference stays the same.
Note 
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