Physics in Entertainment and the Arts: Act 1 Scene 1

Wave

A disturbance that propogates through a medium

Amplitude

The maximum displacement from the central rest position

Wavelength

The length of one wave

Frequency

Number of waves per amount of time, reciprocal of a period, measured in hertz

Period

The amount of time it takes one wave to form or pass by, reciprocal of frequency

Wave speed

Measures how rapidly a wave passes by, controlled by the medium

Phase

Tells the starting point of a wave

Transverse Wave

Medium moves perpendicular to the wave direction, molecules need to be connected (water, light, stadium)

Longitudinal Waves

Medium moves back and forth (parallel) in the same direction as wave (sound, earthquake, violin)

Torsional Wave

Medium twists around direction of travel, must be a solid (spiral fracture, mechanical drive shaft, chalk, Tacoma Narrows)