Waves and Sound

Oscilloscope

A graph of pressure versus time

Wave

A wiggle in space and time that transports energy, described by frequency, speed, amplitude, and wavelength

Vibration

A wiggle in time, described by frequency, how frequently vibratory motion occurs

Wave speed

Describes how fast a disturbance moves through a medium, related to the frequency and wavelength of a wave

Amplitude

Distance from the midpoint to crest or trough

Wavelength

Distance from the top of one crest to the top of the next crest, or distance between successive identical parts of the wave

Crests

High points of the wave

Frequency, Speed, Amplitude, and Wavelength

How is Wave described

Frequency

How is vibration described

1/20 second

If the frequency of a particular wave is 20 Hz, its period is. T = 1/f

Troughs

Low points of the wave

Speed of Sound

Sound travels at 340 m/s in air at 20*C

Wavelength (W)

The distance between adjacent peaks in the direction of travel for a transverse wave is its ________

A Vibration

The source of all waves

Perpendicular to the wave

The vibrations along a transverse wave move in a direction ______

Sound

Travels in longitudinal waves - vibrating compressions and rarefactions through air

Longitudinal wave, transverse wave

Two common types of waves that differ because of the direction in which the medium vibrates compared with the direction of travel

1 Hertz

Unit of vibrations in a given time, 1 vibration per second =

Higher frequency

____ means increased rate of energy transfer --- shorter wavelengths

Period

defined as the time it takes for a complete vibration, any unit of time, often the second

Radio Speaker

paper cone vibrates in rhythm with an electric signal Vibrations are displayed on an oscilloscope