Physics Unit 5 - Waves Vocab

Trough

Definition : A point on the wave is a trough if the displacement of the medium at that point is at a minimum.

Blue Shift

Definition: A blue shift is any decrease in wavelength, with a corresponding increase in frequency, of an electromagnetic wave.

Doppler Shift

Definition: A change in frequency due to the Doppler effect.

Sine Curve

Definition: A curve representing periodic oscillations of constant amplitude as given by a sine function.

Period

Definition: A period is the time needed for one complete cycle of vibration to pass a given point. As the frequency of a wave increases, the period of the wave decreases.

Shock Wave

Definition: A shock wave or shock is a type of propagating disturbance. When a wave moves faster than the local speed of sound in a fluid it is a shock wave.

Standing Wave

Definition: A vibration of a system in which some particular points remain fixed while others between them vibrate with the maximum amplitude

Bow Wave

Definition: A wave or system of waves set up at the bows of a moving ship.

Longitudinal Wave

Definition: A wave that oscillates back and forth on an axis that is the same as the axis along which the wave propagates. Sound waves are longitudinal waves, since the air molecules are displaced forward and backward on the same axis along which the sound travels. Compare transverse wave.

Transverse Wave

Definition: A wave vibrating at right angles to the direction of its propagation.

Inference pattern

Definition: An overall pattern that results when two or more waves interfere with each other, generally showing regions of constructive and of destructive interference. Optical interference patterns are analyzed in devices such as interferometers; the acoustic effect of beats is an example of an interference pattern.

Wave

Definition: Any regularly recurring event, such as surf coming in toward a beach, that can be thought of as a disturbance moving through a medium. Waves are characterized by wavelength, frequency, and the speed at which they move.

Sonic Boom

Definition: Is a shock wave that is produced by an aircraft or other object flying at a speed equal to or exceeding the speed of sound and that is heard on the ground as a sound like a clap of thunder.

Anti node

Definition: Points the two waves add with the same phase and reinforce each other. In cases where the two opposite wave trains are not the same amplitude, they do not cancel perfectly, so the amplitude of the standing wave at the nodes is not zero but merely a minimum.

Hertz

Definition: The SI unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second.

Red Shift

Definition: The effect of the blue shift has the opposite effect on the red shift. In visible light, this shifts the color from the red end of the spectrum to the blue end.

Constructive Interference Synonym:

Definition: The interference of two or more waves of equal frequency and phase, resulting in their mutual reinforcement and producing a single amplitude equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the individual waves.

Destructive Interference

Definition: The interference of two waves of equal frequency and opposite phase, resulting in their cancellation where the negative displacement of one always coincides with the positive displacement of the other.

Amplitude

Definition: The maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a vibrating body or wave measured from its equilibrium position. It is equal to one-half the length of the vibration path.

Frequency

Definition: The number of crests of a wave that move past a given point in a given unit of time. The most common unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz), corresponding to one crest per second.

Vibrations

Definition: The oscillating, reciprocating, or other periodic motion of a rigid or elastic body or medium forced from a position or state of equilibrium. the analogous motion of the particles of a mass of air or the like, whose state of equilibrium has been disturbed, as in transmitting sound.

Wavelength

Definition: Wavelength and frequency. Light is measured by its wavelength (in nano-meters) or frequency (in Hertz). equals the distance between two successive wave crests or troughs. equals the number of waves that passes a given point per second.

Out Of Phase

Definition: Waves with the same frequency but different phases are "out of phase." The term phase also refers to states of matter. For example, water can exist in liquid, solid, and gas phases. In each phase, the water molecules interact differently, and the aggregate of many molecules has distinct physical properties. Condensed matter systems can have interesting and exotic phases, such as super fluid, superconducting, and quantum critical phases.

Crest

Definition: a point on the wave where the displacement of the medium is at a maximum. A point on the wave is a trough if the displacement of the medium at that point is at a minimum.

In Phase

Definition:Two waves with the same frequency are "in phase" if they have the same phase and therefore line up everywhere.

Node

Definition:ve. A node is a point along a standing wave where the wave has minimum amplitude. For instance, in a vibrating guitar string, the ends of the string are nodes.