Physics Vocab - Waves
About this set
Created by:
o_vesa on April 17, 2012
Subjects:
wave, Pre-IB, Pre-IB Physics, Physics 10
Description:
For the Physics Waves Quiz
Log in to favorite or report as inappropriate.
Order by
41 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Vibration | a wiggle in time |
| wave | A disturbance that carries energy through matter or space |
| simple harmonic motion | Periodic motion where restoring force is directly proportional to displacement; a back and forth motion |
| amplitude | the distance from the equilibrium position - where it would end if it stopped oscillating |
| period | the time needed for an object to complete one full cycle of simple harmonic motion time for one full movement; 1 complete back and forth |
| spring constant | relates how easily to the equilibrium it is to stretch string |
| pendulum | mass on string (N/m) |
| equilibrium for a pendulum | straight down |
| Electromagnetic Waves | no medium is needed |
| mechanical waves | need a medium to travel through (transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves) |
| transverse waves | medium is displaced perpendicular to direction of wave motion |
| longitudinal waves | medium is displaced parallel to direction of wave |
| surface waves | combination of transverse and longitudinal waves |
| wave pulse | a single disturbance that travels through a medium |
| traveling wave | when more than one disturbance occurs, like pulses at regular intervals |
| aomplitude | max displacement from equilibrium |
| wavelength | distance from crest to crest (m); the shortest distance between two points where the wave patterns repeats |
| trough | the lowest point of a transverse wave |
| crest | the highest point of a transverse wave |
| compression | region where squeezed |
| rarefaction | farther apart |
| frequency | waves/seconds; cycles/second; (Hz); The number of complete oscillations a wave makes each second |
| period | time for 1 full cycle or for 1 wavelength (s) |
| Principle of superposition | the displacement of a medium caused by 2 or more waves is the algebraic sum of the individual wave displacement (add the amplitudes) |
| interference | the result of the superposition of 2 or more waves |
| destructive interference | When waves in opposite directions meet + their displacements are in opposite directions, new waves will have a smaller amplitude (in phase) |
| constructive interference | When wave displacements are in the same direction + 2 waves meet, the result will be a larger amplitude (out of phase) |
| in phase | crests + trough overlap for 2 waves |
| out of phase | crest of 1 wave overlaps trough of the other |
| superposition of waves | 2 waves can be in the same place at the same time |
| standing waves | 2 or more waves that interfere with each other so that they appear to be stationary |
| node | When waves are superposed, any point that does not experience displacement; the stationary points |
| antinodes | When two waves interfere constructively, the point with the greatest displacement; max displacement |
| Doppler effect | the apparent change in frequency of a wave due to relative motion of the observer and/or source |
| red shift | moving away from you; lower frequency |
| blue shift | moving toward you; higher frequency |
| Law of reflection | angle of incidence equals the angle formed between incoming wave and the normal |
| normal | perpendicular to the boundary |
| refraction | change in direction of waves at a boundary between 2 different mediums |
| diffraction | the spreading or bending of waves around a barrier |
| periodic motion | any motion that repeats in a regular cycle |
First Time Here?
Welcome to Quizlet, a fun, free place to study. Try these flashcards, find others to study, or make your own.