All Flashcards
Label the parts of a transverse wave: crest, trough, wavelength, and amplitude.
Crest: Highest point of wave, Trough: Lowest point of wave, Wavelength: Distance between two crests (or troughs), Amplitude: Height from equilibrium to crest (or trough).
Label the parts of a longitudinal wave: compression, rarefaction, and wavelength.
Compression: Region of high density, Rarefaction: Region of low density, Wavelength: Distance between two compressions (or rarefactions).
What is a wave?
A travelling disturbance that transfers energy and momentum.
What is amplitude?
The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium value.
Define wavelength.
The distance from one repeated unit of a wave to the next.
What is the period of a wave?
The time it takes for one complete cycle of a wave to occur.
Define frequency.
The number of cycles of a wave in a given amount of time.
What is a transverse wave?
A wave where the particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave motion.
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave where the particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave motion.
Compare and contrast transverse and longitudinal waves.
Transverse: Particles oscillate perpendicular to wave direction; examples include light waves. Longitudinal: Particles oscillate parallel to wave direction; examples include sound waves. Both transfer energy.
Compare the relationship between amplitude and energy in waves.
Higher amplitude: Carries more energy. Lower amplitude: Carries less energy.