Waves and Light Flashcards

Flashcards about Waves and Light

What is the medium of a wave?

The substance that a wave travels in.

What are Transverse waves?

Vibrations happen perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

What are Longitudinal waves?

Vibrations happen parallel to the direction of the wave.

What is Amplitude?

The height of the wave from the center, measured in meters.

What is Wavelength?

The length from one crest to the next, measured in meters.

What is Frequency?

How many full wavelengths pass you every second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

What is Time Period?

The time it takes for one full wavelength to pass, measured in seconds.

What is a Peak?

The point of maximum displacement in a transverse wave.

What is a Trough?

The point of minimum displacement in a transverse wave.

What is Rarefaction?

The region of decreased density in a longitudinal wave.

What is Compression?

The region of increased density in a longitudinal wave.

What is the Frequency of a wave?

The number of cycles a wave repeats each second, cycles per second.

What is the relationship between High Frequency and Wavelength?

A high frequency has a short wavelength.

What is the relationship between Low Frequency and Wavelength?

A low frequency has a long wavelength.

How are Frequency and Time Period related?

The frequency and time period are inversely related.

What happens when two waves meet?

When two waves meet, the resulting wave is the sum of the two waves.

What is Constructive Interference?

When two waves sum to create a resulting wave with a larger amplitude.

What is Destructive Interference?

When two waves sum to create a resulting wave with a smaller amplitude

What are Coherent Waves?

Light that is monochromatic, with each wave having one frequency or wavelength and the same amplitude, and they are in phase with one another.

What is Path Difference (PD)?

The difference between the distances from each of the two sources to the point being measured.

What Path Difference results in Constructive Interference?

A difference of whole wavelengths: PD = nλ, where n = 0, 1, 2, 3…

What Path Difference results in Destructive Interference?

A difference of half a wavelength: PD = (n - 1/2)λ, where n = 1, 2, 3, 4…

What is the Doppler Effect?

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

What is Reflection?

Instead of continuing past the barrier, the wave bounces back.

What is an Antinode?

The point of maximum vibration in a resonant system.

What is a Node?

A place where the medium does not move in a resonant system.

Where can Harmonics be used?

Harmonics can be used for both strings which are fixed at two ends, or only fixed at one end, with the other end left free. Air moving in tubes which are open on both ends, or open one end and closed the other.

What is the Fundamental Frequency?

The lowest, simplest form of vibration (n=1).

What is Diffraction?

The bending of waves around obstacles or through openings.

What is Wave Diffraction?

Waves bend around or within an object