Physics 1A - 1D

Wave

A disturbance traveling in an elastic medium

Transverse Waves

Waves in which the particles in the medium move perpendicular to the direction the wave travels

Longitudinal Waves

Waves in which the particles in the medium move parallel to the direction in which the wave itself travels

Traveling Waves

Any wave that can be seen traveling to the right or to the left

Impulsive Wave Shapes

Waves made up of a single bust of one or several pulses

Oscillatory Wave Shapes

Waves having a definite repeating pattern

Sinusoidal Wave Shapes

Oscillatory waves that have a special simple shape like a mathematical sine or cosine curve

Propagation Velocity/Wave Velocity

The speed with which a crest or any other part of the wave moves in the direction of the wave

Medium Velocity

The speed with which any portion of the mediums material move as a wave goes by. This motion is either perpendicular to the wave velocity in a transverse wave or along it in a longitudinal wave

Wavelength

The distance between two corresponding points on the wave, symbol λ

Cycle

One complete oscillation, or one complete round trip of a point in the medium

Period

The time it takes to complete one cycle, symbol T

Frequency

The number of cycles per second, using Hz, symbol f

Displacement

Distance of a point from its equilibrium position, the position where there is no wave

Amplitude

Maximum displacement of the string, symbol A