Wave and Optics - 1st Part

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental definitions of waves, the requirements for their propagation, and the distinctions between mechanical and non-mechanical waves based on the lecture notes.

Wave

The continuous transfer of disturbance in the form of energy from one region of medium to another due to successive vibration of the particles of medium about their mean position.

Mechanical wave

The wave which require material medium for their propagation, such as sound waves or waves in a stretched string.

Non-mechanical wave

The wave which doesn't require material medium for their propagation, such as light waves and X-rays; also known as the electromagnetic wave.

Electromagnetic wave

Another name for a non-mechanical wave that does not requires a material medium for propagation.

Elastic property

A property the medium must possess so that the particles of the medium can vibrate during the propagation of a wave.

Inertia

A property the medium must possess for the propagation of a wave so that the particles can store energy.

SHM Equation of Wave Propagation

The equation used to represent the vibration of particles during wave propagation: $y = a \tan(\text{w}'t)$ or $y = a \text{sin}(\text{w}'t)$ [equation of SHM].