Lecture 2: Transverse Waves

Flashcards about transverse waves, mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves, matter waves, wavelength, period, frequency, wave function, superposition, interference and standing waves.

What are Mechanical Waves?

Waves that can exist only within a material medium, such as water, air, and rock.

What are Electromagnetic Waves?

Waves that require no material medium to exist and involve a spontaneous propagation process, such as light, radio waves, and X-rays.

What are Matter Waves?

Waves associated with fundamental particles like electrons and protons, studied in quantum physics.

What is a Transverse Wave?

A wave in which the motion of medium particles is perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.

What is a Longitudinal Wave?

A wave in which the motion of medium particles is parallel to the direction of the wave’s travel.

What is a Peak?

The highest point the medium rises to in a wave, representing the maximum positive displacement.

What is a Trough?

The lowest point the medium sinks to in a wave, representing the maximum negative displacement.

What is the Amplitude of a Wave?

The maximum magnitude of displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position, measured in meters.

What is the Wavelength of a Wave?

The distance between two adjacent peaks or troughs in a wave, representing one complete wave cycle, measured in meters.

What are Points in Phase?

Points that have the same motion and are separated by an integer number of complete wave cycles (complete wavelengths).

What is the Period (T) of a Wave?

The time taken for two successive peaks or troughs to pass a fixed point, measured in seconds.

What is the Frequency (f) of a Wave?

The number of wave cycles (peaks) that pass a fixed point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

What is the Wave Function for a Transverse Sinusoidal Wave?

y(x,t) = ym sin(kx - ωt)

What is the Angular Wave Number (k)?

Represents the spatial rate of change of the phase of a wave, measured in radians per meter.

What is the Angular Frequency (ω)?

Represents the temporal rate of change of the phase of a wave, measured in radians per second.

What is formula for the Speed (v) of a Transverse Wave?

v = λ / T or v = λ * f

What is the Superposition Principle?

The principle that when two or more waves are moving through a medium, the resultant wave function at any point is the algebraic sum of the wave functions of the individual waves

What is Constructive Interference?

Occurs when two waves combine to create a larger amplitude wave

What is Destructive Interference?

Occurs when two waves combine to create a smaller amplitude wave.

What is a Standing Wave?

A wave that appears to be standing still, where the locations of the maxima and minima do not change.

What is a Node?

A point on a standing wave where no displacement takes place due to destructive interference.

What is an Anti-Node?

A point on a standing wave where maximum displacement occurs due to constructive interference.