Waves and Sound

What is a vibration

A periodic motion of an object.

What is a wave?

A disturbance that transfers energy through space or matter.

What is the relationship between period and frequency?

they are inverses

Crest

highest point or peak of a wave

trough

the lowest point

amplitude

height avelw

What are transverse waves?

Waves where the direction of the wave is perpendicular to the direction of particle motion.

What are longitudinal waves?

Waves where the direction of the wave is parallel to the direction of particle motion.

What is constructive interference?

When two waves meet and combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude.

What is destructive interference?

When two waves meet and combine to make a wave with a smaller amplitude.

What are standing waves?

Waves that remain in a constant position, formed by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions.

What are nodes?

Points on a standing wave where there is no displacement.

What are antinodes?

Points on a standing wave where the amplitude is at a maximum.

What is the fundamental frequency?

The lowest frequency at which a system oscillates.

What are harmonics?

Integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.

What is the Doppler Effect?

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.

What is a sonic boom?

A loud sound caused by the shock wave from an object traveling faster than the speed of sound.

What is the difference between frequency and pitch?

Frequency is a measurable property of sound waves, while pitch is the perception of how high or low a sound is.

What is compression in sound waves?

The region in a longitudinal wave where particles are closest together.

What is rarefaction in sound waves?

The region in a longitudinal wave where particles are furthest apart.

What is resonance?

When the frequency of forced vibrations matches an object's natural frequency, causing an increase in amplitude.

How do sound waves travel fastest?

Sound waves travel fastest in solids due to closer particle proximity.

What happens during destructive interference?

Two sound waves can cancel each other out.