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MCAT Physics Chapter 7- Waves and Sound

Terms in this set (25)

Transverse waves
have oscillations of wave particles perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation
Longitudinal waves
have oscillations of wave particles parallel to the direction of wave propagation
Displacement
how far a point is from the equilibrium position
Equilibrium position
the central point of a wave oscillation
Amplitude
the magnitude of a waves maximal displacement
Crest
point of most positive displacement
Trough
point of most negative displacement
Wavelength
the distance between two crests or two troughs
Frequency
-the number of cycles a wave makes per second
-expressed in hertz (Hz)
Wave speed equation
Wave period
Angular frequency
another way of expressing waves and is expressed in radians per second
Angular frequency equation
Period
-the number of seconds it takes to complete a cycle
-the inverse of frequency
Interference
the ways in which waves interact in space to form a resultant wave
Constructive interference
-occurs when waves are exactly in phase with each other
-amplitude of the resultant wave is equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the two interfering waves
Destructive interference
-occurs when waves are exactly out of phase with each other
-amplitude of resultant wave is equal to the difference in amplitude between the two interfering waves
Partially constructive/destructive interference
-occurs when two waves are not quite perfectly in or out of phase with each other
-displacement of the resultant wave is equal to the sum of the displacements of the two interfering waves
Traveling waves
have continuously shifting points of maximum and minimum displacement
Standing waves
produced by the constructive and destructive interference of two waves of the same frequency traveling in opposite directions in the same space
Antinodes
points of maximum oscillation
Nodes
points where there is no oscillation
Resonance
the increase in amplitude that occurs when a periodic force is applied at the natural (resonant) frequency of an object
Damping
decrease in amplitude caused by an applied or nonconservative force
Sound
produced by mechanical disturbance of a material that creates an oscillation of the molecules in the material
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...