Chapter 15 Waves Study Guide

Define and give an example of each of the ways waves interact: Diffraction

The change in direction of a wave when it travels by the edge of an object or through an opening.

What is a wavelength?

The distance from one point on a wave to the same point on the next wave.

Describe how amplitude and energy change between a longitudinal wave and a transverse wave.

The energy carried by the transverse wave increases as the amplitude of the wave increases. When the amplitude of a longitudinal wave increases, the particles in the medium get closer together in the compressions and farther apart in the rarefactions.

What is the amplitude of a wave?

The maximum distance that the wave moves from its rest position.

What is frequency in waves?

The number of wavelengths that pass by a point each second

How do waves interact with matter?

Waves can be reflected by matter or they can change direction when they travel from one material to another. As waves pass through matter some of the energy they carry can be transferred to matter. For example sound waves can be absorbed. Waves also interact with each other. When two waves overlap a new wave forms

How do waves transfer energy?

Waves transfer energy but they leave behind the matter through which it travels through. Example: a water wave moves the water particles as the wave passes and causes you to move up and down in your raft. You do not move your location due to the energy not transferring the matter.

What is the Law of Reflection?

When a wave is reflected from a surface, the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence

Source of Energy of the wave

waves transfer energy away from the source

What are waves?

A disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter

What is an electromagnetic wave?

A wave can travel through empty space and through matter

What is a transverse wave?

A wave in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction the wave travels

What is a mechanical Wave?

A wave that can travel only through matter

What is the difference between constructive interference, destructive interference and standing waves?

Constructive interference-when crests overlap crests and troughs overlap troughs. A new wave will form that has a greater amplitude than either of the original waves. Destructive interference- crest of one wave overlaps the trough of another wave. The new wave that forms will have a smaller amplitude than the original waves.

Explain what happens to the amplitudes of waves during constructive and destructive interferences.

Constructive- Amplitudes increase Destructive-Amplitudes decrease

What is a crest? A trough?

Crest is the highest point on a transverse wave. Trough is the lowest points on a transverse wave

What gives off electromagnetic waves?

Every object including yourself

What is a longitudinal wave?

Makes the particles in a medium move parallel to the direction that the wave travels

How do you calculate wave speed?

Multiplying its wavelength and its frequency together: wave speed (in m/s)= frequency (in Hz) x wavelength (in m)

What is an interference in waves?

Occurs when waves that overlap combine, forming a new wave

What are the types of electromagnetic waves?

Radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, ultraviolet waves

What is compression in a longitudinal wave?

Regions of a longitudinal wave where the particles in the medium are closest together

What is rarefaction in a longitudinal wave?

Regions of the longitudinal wave where the particles are farthest apart

How does wave speed change as it goes through different materials?

The same types of waves travel at different speeds in different materials. Mechanical waves travel fastest in solids and slowest in gases. If the mediums temp increases they tend to travel faster. Electromagnetic waves travel fastest in empty space and slowest in solids.

Define and give an example of each of the ways waves interact: Reflection

bouncing of a wave off a surface

Define and give an example of each of the ways waves interact: Refraction

change in direction of a wave that occurs as the wave changes speed when moving from one medium to another

Define and give an example of each of the ways waves interact: Transmission

the passage of light through an object

Define and give an example of each of the ways waves interact: Absorption

the transfer of energy by a wave to the medium through which it travels.

Types of mechanical waves

transverse waves, longitudinal waves (Sound Waves, water waves, seismic waves