waves
amplitude
the distance from the equilibrium position to the maximum or minimum intensity of a wave
mechanical wave
a wave requiring a physical medium through which to travel.
transverse wave
a wave that vibrates perpendicular to the direction of propagation; ex. electromagnetic waves
reverberation
the compounding of many reflected soundwaves upon one another within a space.
compressions
compressed areas of high pressure in a sound wave.
electromagnetic wave
oscillating electric and magnetic fields that need no physical medium through which to travel
period
the time it takes for one wave cycle to occur; SI unit is seconds (s).
wavelength
The distance between two waves that includes on full compression and one full rarefaction of a sound wave or one full crest and one full trough of an electromagnetic wave; SI unit is meters
rarefactions
areas of lower pressure in a sound wave
beat
what is heard as changes in amplitude when sound waves with almost identical frequencies interfere with one another
frequency
- the number of wavelengths that pass a given point per second; SI unit is the Hertz
spring constant
a characteristic of a spring that is equal to the force exerted on it divided by the displacement the spring stretches; the unit is Newton/meter
decibel
a unit of measurement that represents the logarithmic ratio between a sound wave’s highest and lowest pressure.
principle of superposition
when waves in space interfere with one another, they combine to form bigger or smaller waves.
constructive interference
when two waves are identical in frequency and, in the case of a sound wave, their compressions and rarefactions are aligned in phase.
harmonic motion
- the repetition of a wave with a constant frequency
spring force
this force is equal to the spring constant, k, for a given spring multiplied by the displacement the spring is stretched from the equilibrium position, x.
elasticity
how quickly the molecules of a material ‘bounce back’ after a wave has moved through them.
interference
the combination of two or more waves to form a resultant wave in which the displacement is either reinforced or canceled.
destructive interference
when two waves interfere and are 180º out of phase with each other.
longitudinal wave
a wave that vibrates in the direction of propagation; e.g. sound waves.
spring potential energy
the amount of stored energy in a spring; is equal to one half times the spring constant, k, times the displacement the spring is stretched from the equilibrium position, x, squared.
timbre
the quality of a sound
diffraction
the bending of waves around a barrier
antinode
the position on a standing wave where constructive interference occurs.