Physics Vocabulary: Chapter 11 Terms & Definitions

simple harmonic motion

motion in which a particle repeats the same path periodically

period

time to complete one cycle

Frequency

the number of cycles completes in a given time interval

amplitude

maximum displacement from zero of any periodic phenomenon

hooke's law

the amount of stretch or compression of an elastic material is directly proportional to the applied force

resonance

a condition that exits when the frequency of a force applied to a system matches the natural frequency of

vibration of the system

wave

a disturbance that travels through matter or space

medium

the material through which the wave travels

transverse waves

one that moves at right angles to the moving particles of the medium

longitudinal waves

the kind of wave that moves along the same direction as the moving particles of the medium

compression

a region where particles of a medium are close together

rarefaction

regions where the particles of a medium are spread apart

crest

Highest point of a wave

trough

Lowest point of a wave

wavelength

distance from one crest to the next crest

principle of superposition

at the point where two or more waves meet, the displacement of the medium is the sum of

the displacements of the individual waves.

interference

combining of two (disturbances) arriving at the same point at the same time.

constructive interference

two crests or troughs meet in phase and produce a wave with amplitude equal to the sum

of the individual amplitudes

destructive interference

two waves meet out in phase crest meets trough) and produce a wave with an amplitude

equal to the difference of the individual amplitudes

node

point in a medium or field that remains unchanged when acted upon by more than one disturbance

simultaneously

nodal line

line connecting nodes