Studied by 3 peoplewave
a rhythmic disturbance that carries energy (NOT matter)
medium
the matter that the wave travels through
mechanical waves
must have a medium (ex: sound)
electromagnetic waves
do not need a medium (ex: light)
transverse wave
the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave (ex: light, “the wave” in a stadium)
longitudinal wave
particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave (ex: sound, slinky)
wavelength
distance from a point on a wave to the same point on the next wave (abbreviated by lambda)
amplitude
distance from rest position to crest OR trough
what is amplitude determined by?
the amount of energy in the wave
frequency (f)
number of waves to pass a given point
frequency units
waves/second = Hertz(Hz)
period (T)
the time for 1 wave to pass a given point
period units
seconds/wave
wave equation
lambda*frequency
reflection
bouncing off of a wave at a barrier
normal
imaginary line perpendicular to the barrier at the point of reflection
angle of incidence (i)
angle from the incident wave to the normal
angle of reflection (r)
angle from the reflected ray to the normal
law of reflection
i = r
refraction
the bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another
what happens when a wave changes mediums?
it changes speed
diffraction
bending of a wave around the edge of a barrier
interference
ability of 2 or more waves to add together to form 1 new wave
constuctive
makes new wave with a larger amplitude “in phase”
destructive
cancellation “out of phase”
Note
Flashcard