Sine Curve
The wave form traced by simple harmonic motion, which can be made by a visible moving conveyor belt by a pendulum swinging at right angles above the moving belt
Amplitude
The maximum displacement on either side of the equilibrium position
Wavelength
The distance between successive crests, troughs, or identical parts of a wave
Frequency
The number of vibrations per unit of time. The number of crests that pass a particular point per unit of time
Hertz
The SI unit of frequency One hertz equals one vibration per second
Period
The time in which a vibration is completed. The period of a wave equals the period of the source and is equal to 1/frequency
Transverse Wave
A wave in which the medium vibrates perpendicularly to the direction in which the wave travels. Light waves and waves on stringed instruments are transverse
Longitudinal Wave
A wave in which the medium vibrates parallel to the direction in which the wave travels. Sound waves are longitudinal
Wave Speed
The speed in which waves pass a particular point
Wave Interference
The phenomenon that occurs when two waves meet while traveling along the same medium
Interference Patterns
The pattern formed by the superposition of different sets of waves that produce reinforcement in some places and cancellation in others
Standing Wave
A stationary interference pattern formed in a medium when two sets of identical waves pass through the medium in opposite direction
Doppler Effect
The shift in received frequency due to the motion of a vibrating source towards or away from a receiver
Bow Wave
The V-shaped disturbance created by an object moving across a liquid surface at a speed greater than the wave speed
Shock Wave
The cone shaped disturbance created by an object moving at supersonic speed through a fluid
Sonic Boom
The loud sound that results from the incidence of a shock wave
What is a wiggle in time called?
A wave
What is the source of all waves?
A vibration
What is meant by the period of a pendulum?
The swinging of the pendulum to and fro
Which has a longer period: a short or longer pendulum?
A long pendulum
How does a sine curve relate to the wave description?
It is a pictorial representation of a wave produced by simple harmonic motion
How many vibrations per second are represented in a radio wave of 101.7 MHz?
101,700,000 hertz
How do frequency and period related to each other?
They are reciprocals
In one word, what is it that moves from source to receiver in wave motion?
Energy
Does the medium in which waves travel move with the wave?
No, it always returns to its initial condition
In what direction are the vibrations relative to the direction of the wave travel in a transverse wave?
Perpendicularly
In what direction are the vibrations relative to the direction of wave travel in a longitudinal wave?
Parallel
The wavelength of a transverse is the distance between successive crests. What is the wave length of a longitudinal?
The distance between successive compressions or rarefractions
What is the superposition principle?
When more than one wave occupies the same space at the same time, the displacements add at every point
Constructive Interference
Two waves added together produce a wave of increased amplitude
Deconstructive Interference
Two waves added together to reduce individual effects
What kinds of waves can show interference?
All waves in motion
What is a node?
The minimal displacement on a wave
What is an antinode?
The maximum displacement on a wave
Can standing waves be formed from transverse waves, longitudinal waves, or both?
Both
In the Doppler Effect, does frequency change? Does wave speed change?
Only the frequency changes
Can the Doppler Effect be observed with longitudinal waves, transverse, or both?
Both
What is meant by a 'blue-shift' and a red shift for light?
An increase or decrease in frequency
How fast must a bug swim to keep up with the waves it produces?
To keep up with produced waves, the bug must swim at wave speed
How fast must the bug swim to create a bow wave?
To produce a bow wave the bug must swim faster that the wave speed
How fast does a supersonic aircraft fly compared to the speed of sound?
It travels faster than the speed of sound
How does the V-shape of a bow wave depend on the speed of the source?
It depends on the speed of the source. Greater speed means a greater bow
A bow wave on the surface of water is two dimensional. How about a shock wave in air?
It is a three dimensional wave.
True of False: A sonic boom occurs only when an artifact is breaking through the sound barrier.
False: It is a continuous sound or occurance
True or False: In order for an object to produce a sonic boom; it must be noisy.
False: Once it breaks the barrier, the loud crack occurs. It does not need to be a source of sound.