Wave Vocabulary
Distance between two consecutive points on a wave.
Wavelength
What is a longitudinal wave?
Particles move parallel to direction of motion.
What is reflection?
When a wave bounces off a surface. Incident angle = reflected angle.
What happens to a light wave when it enters a medium with a greater n value?
Slows down, angle decreases, wavelength decreases. Frequency stays the same.
What describes the image in a plane mirror?
Upright, virtual, same size, same distance.
Measured in Hertz
Frequency
What is a transverse wave?
Particles move perpendicular to direction of motion.
What is refraction?
Bending of a wave when it enters a new medium.
Snell's Law
What happens to a sound wave when it enters a new medium?
Speeds up IF the n is greater (NOTE: Opposite to light)
What describes the image in a convex mirror?
upright, virtual, smaller
What is frequency?
The number of waves per second.
Describe a sound wave.
Longitudinal, needs medium, travels at 3.31 x 102 m/s.
What is diffraction?
Bending of wave AROUND a surface or THROUGH an opening. Bigger wavelength, smaller opening means more diffraction.
What is the c = to in n = c/v?
c is the speed of light in a vaccuum = 3 x 10^8 m/s
Describe the 2 rays you draw to create an image in a mirror.
Parallel, then through F
Straight through C
What is wave characteristic tells us the loudness of a sound wave?
Amplitude
Describe a light wave.
Transverse, doesn't need a medium. Travels at 3 x 108 m/s.
What is absorption?
Energy of the wave is absorbed into the new medium.
What is the normal?
Perpendicular line with the surface. Measure ALL angles with the normal.
Describe the 2 rays you draw to create the image in a lens.
Parallel, then through F.
Straight through the center of the lens.
What is the period of a wave?
Time per wave. 1/frequency
Describe an earthquake wave
Made up of longitudinal and transverse waves.
What is total internal reflection?
If a wave hits the new medium at an angle above the critical angle then it wont enter the medium. It will all reflect. Happens when index of refraction for new medium is much less than the index of refraction for the current medium.
If the speed of light in a new medium is 1.5 x 108 m/s, what is the n value of that medium?
2
What type of mirror would you use if you wanted to see all the details of your face?
Concave.