Physics Unit 4
Periodic Wave
A regular succession of pulses or identical disturbances
Standing Wave
The pattern produced by reflecting a wave back on itself
Wave
A disturbance in a medium that transfers energy without transferring matter
Condensation
A region of compression (high pressure, or density) in a longitudinal wave
Rarefaction
A region of spread (low pressure, or density) in a longitudinal wave
Beats
A series of alternating reinforcements and cancellations produced by the interference of the waves of different frequencies
Torsional Wave
A wave in which the pulse oscillates around the equilibrium position in a rotational motion
Transverse Wave
A wave in which the pulse oscillates perpendicular to the direction of the wavepath
Longitudinal Wave
A wave in which the pulses oscillate parallel to the direction of the wave path
Nonrecurrent Wave
A wave of short duration; a non repetitive pulse
Pulse
Any regular, measured beat; specifically, a nonrecurrent or nonrepetitive wave
Antinode
In a wave pattern, the region of maximum wave motion
Node
In a wave pattern, the region of no motion
Doppler Effect
The apparent change in frequency perceived when the source and observer are approaching or receding from each other
Refraction
The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium into another, or as it passes through a non-uniform medium
Diffraction
The bending of a wave in a homogeneous medium around obstacles or through a narrow opening
Reflection
The bouncing of a wave off a boundary
Shock Wave
The cone-shaped wave made by a particle moving faster than the speed of a wave in that medium
Wavelength
The distance between identical parts of a wave
Total Internal Reflection
The effect produced when a wave incident at or above the critical angle in a low-velocity medium cannot be refracted into a high-velocity medium
Destructive Interference
The effect produced when the crest of one wave and trough of another wave coincide, yielding decreased amplitude
Constructive Interference
The effect produced where the crests or the troughs of two waves cross, yielding increased amplitude
Crest
The highest part of a wave
Amplitude
The maximum displacement from an equilibrium position
Critical Angle
The minimum angle of incidence that produces total internal reflection
Frequency
The number of waves (vibrations, revolutions, or cycles) that pass a given point per unit time
Velocity
The rate at which displacement is covered in a given period of time; ∆d/∆t
Interference
The superposition of two periodic waves producing regions of constructive and destructive interference
Period
The time required for a complete wave to pass a given point; reciprocal of frequency
Resonance
The vibration of an object as its natural frequency caused by a force or wave of the same frequency or multiple therof
Reflected Wave
The wave that bounces off a boundary into the same medium
Refracted Wave
The wave that is bent as it passes into a different medium
Incident Wave
The wave that strikes a boundary; the original wave
Transmitted Wave
The wave that travels from one medium to another
Superposition
The way in which two waves combine
Trough
the lowest part of a wave
