Types of Wave
Definitions
More Definitions and Formulae
Wave Phenomenon
Pot Luck
100
Waves that require a medium through which to travel.
What is a mechanical wave?
100
The distance of a point on the wave from its undisturbed position
What is displacement?
100
wave speed / frequency
How do you calculate the wavelength?
100
The bouncing back of an object or a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass.
What is reflection?
100
The material through which a wave travels.
What is a medium?
200
A wave that moves the medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels.
What is a transverse wave?
200
The number of waves that pass per second
What is the frequency of a wave?
200
When two or more waves meet at a point, the resultant is the sum of the displacements of the individual waves.
What is the principle of superposition of waves?
200
When waves change direction as they enter a medium of a different density at an angle.
What is refraction?
200
A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place.
What is a wave?
300
A wave that moves the medium in a direction parallel to the direction in which the wave travels.
What is a longitudinal wave?
300
The distance from any point on a wave to the next identical point
What is a wavelength?
300
Occurs when the path difference between two coherent waves is equal to a whole number of wavelengths
What is constructive interference?
300
The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or when they pass the edge of an object
What is diffraction?
300
When the size of the gap is comparable to the wavelength of the wave
When is the diffraction effect the greatest?
400
Established when two identical waves travelling in opposite directions meet. Usually this happens when one wave is a reflection of the other.
When does a stationary wave occur?
400
The time taken for one complete vibration
What is the time period of the motion?
400
Unit of measurement for frequency.
What is a hertz (Hz)?
400
Provides evidence for the wave nature of light
What does Young double slit provide evidence for?
400
The phenomenon that distinguishes transverse and longitudinal waves
What is polarisation?
500
NAN
What is the pattern of nodes and antinodes for the fundamental frequency of a string?
500
A point of maximum amplitude on a stationary wave.
What is an antinode?
500
The frequency of 300 waves that pass a point in one minute?
What is 5 Hz?
500
=ax/D
How can you calculate the wavelength of the light from double slit interference?
500
I=Io cos square (angle between the light's initial polarisation direction and the axis of the polariser)
What is Malus' Law?
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