Physics Quiz - Wave Categories, Anatomy, and Velocity

periodic (slowly) (repeated) motion:

period (T) - the time for one complete repeated pattern

frequency (f) (rapidly)

number of complete patterns per second (measured in Hz)

wave

vibration created by an initial disturbance that travels through a medium or a field

medium

the material a mechanical wave is traveling through

wave categories:

1. mechanical vs electromagnetic (gravitational)

2. pulse vs. periodic

3. Longitudinal vs. Transverse

waves transfer energy without…

waves transder energy without transferring matter

mechanical vs. electromagnetic: mechanical

needs a medium to travel through

mechanical vs. electromagnetic: electromagnetic

vibrares electric and magnetic fields, can travel through a vacuum (empty space)

Longitudinal vs. Transverse: longitudinal

the medium vibrates parallel to the direction the wave is traveling (Ex: sound)

Longitudinal vs. Transverse: transverse

the medium vibrates perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling (Ex: light waves)

pulse vs. periodic: pulse

not repeated (becomes difficult to identify frequency or wavelength)

pulse vs. periodic: periodic (wave)

continouse wave train, with clear repeated patterns

wave ingredients: something that will vibrate

this determines wave type and wave speed

wave ingredients: an initial disturbance

this determines the wave anatomy (amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period)

physical measurments: crest

absolute highest point

physical measurments: amplitude

height measured from equilibrium

physical measurments: trough

the absolute lowest point of a wave

physical measurments: equilibrium

the resting, undisturbed state of the medium before a wave passes through it.

physical measurments: wavelength

length of one complete wave (Symbol: λ)

time based measurements: frequency

frequency (f): number of waves per second (Hz)

frequency = wave/sec

time based measurements: period

period (T): the time for one wave cycle to pass (s)

period = sec/wave

time based measurements: velocity

velocity (v): speed the wave travels (m/s)

resonance

when multiples of ½ wavelength fit into the size of the object you get large amplitude vibrations

only changing the MEDIUM can ….

only changing the MEDIUM can change the wave velocity

V=λf makes it look like frequency increases velocity, but this isn’t true becuase..

V=λf makes it look like frequency increases velocity, but velocity is actually the constant

speed of sound

in air: about 342m/s (Exact depends on temp)

speed of electromagnetic waves

in vacuum (or air): 3×10^8 m/s