Mechanical Waves

a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another

wave

4 kinds of waves

sound, light, water, radio

waves that transfer energy through matter

mechanical waves

waves that require a substance (called a medium) to travel through

mechanical waves

water, sound, seismic

3 examples of mechanical waves

waves that transfer energy through a field

electromagnetic waves

waves that do not require a substance (medium) to travel through

electromagnetic waves

light, radio, ultraviolet, x-rays

4 examples of electromagnetic waves

mechanical waves need ___ to travel

matter

any material that a wave can travel through is called a ___

medium

a medium can be any type of ___, ___, or ___

solid, liquid, gas

there are 2 types of mechanical waves: ___ and ___

transverse, longitudinal

define section 1 of the diagram

wavelength

the distance between 2 consecutive crests or 2 consecutive troughs

wavelength

this shows the ___ of a ___ wave

wavelength; transverse

the distance between 2 consecutive compressions or 2 consecutive rarefactions

wavelength

this shows the ___ of a ___ wave

wavelength; longitudinal

the number of wavelengths passing by a point in a certain timeframe

frenquency

___ is measured as the number of crests or troughs that pass by in 1 second—measured in Herz

frequency

what is frequency measured in? what is the abbreviation? (answer: ____, (__) )

Herz, (Hz)

the diagram on the left has a ___ wavelength and ___ frequency

longer; smaller

the diagram on the right has a ___ wavelength and ___ frequency

shorter; larger

define section 2 of the diagram

trough

the lowest part of the wave

trough

define section 3 of the diagram

amplitude

the distance from the rest position to the top of a crest or the bottom of a trough

amplitude

tells you how much energy a wave has

amplitude

lower amplitude = ____ energy

less

higher amplitude = ____ energy

more

define section 4 of the diagram

crest

the highest point of the wave

crest

define the dotted line in the center of the wave

rest position

the undisturbed position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating; also known as the equilibrium

rest position

rarefaction

compression

when a wave bounces and goes in a new direction

reflection

reflection

the wave bends around an object or through holes in the object

diffraction

diffraction

the wave bends as it passes into and through an object

refraction

refraction

the wave is absorbed and disappears

absorption

absorption

___ are a traveling form of energy because they can ___ motion

waves; change

which sound wave has the highest amplitude?

B

which sound wave has the longest wavelength?

C

which sound wave has the highest frequency?

D

which sound wave has the most energy?

B