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AP Physics- Waves Flashcards

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5893740011Mechanical_______ waves require a material medium for energy transfer0
5893740012TransverseA _______ wave causes the particles of the medium to vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the wave is traveling (90 degrees, trough and crest)1
5893741814Electromagnetic_______ waves need no medium for travel (can go through vacuum)2
5893741815Wave PulseA _______ is a singular disturbance traveling through a medium3
5893744008FrequencyThe _______ of a wave is the number of waves that pass through a given point per second Same as pitch, unit: 1/s or Hertz (Hz)4
5893744009PeriodThe _______ of a wave is the reciprocal of its frequency (time for one cycle) T, unit: seconds5
5893748054WavelengthThe _______ of a wave is the linear distance between any two corresponding points on consecutive waves Unit: lambda6
5893753286AmplitudeThe energy content of a mechanical wave is characterized by its _______ (magnitude of max displacement) Height, unit: m7
5893781156Interference_______ is the process involved when two waves meet and superimpose their amplitudes (meeting of wave)8
5893781157SpeedThe _______ of a mechanical wave depends on the medium9
5893782512Longitudinal/CompressionalA sound wave is a _______ wave10
5893782513StandingA _______ wave is produced when a wave train moving in one direction meets an identical wave moving in the opposite direction (formed by two identical/same characteristics but opposite direction waves)11
5893782514NodeTwo pulses with identical shapes but opposite directions move toward each other in a medium. The point in the medium that is never displaced is a _______12
5893784352Refraction_______ is the direction change of waves at the boundary between different media (waves enter to second medium with a different angle) Angle of incidence =/= Angle of _______13
5893785984Diffraction_______ is the bending of a wave around an obstacle14
5893824093LoudnessIntensity of sound waves Unit: decibel (dB)15
5893827207EchoReflection of sound waves in air16
5893839336Infrasound or InfrasonicBelow hearing range17
5893840962Ultrasound or UltrasonicAbove hearing range18
5893843239Constructive InterferenceAmplitude is larger than original ones19
5893852523Destructive InterferenceAmplitude is smaller than original ones (can be zero)20
5893855315SuperpositionSum/combination of waves' amplitudes (result of interference)21
5893874132ReflectionWaves turn back to same medium (surface; mirror) Angle of incidence = Angle of _______22
5893929406TroughBottom of a transverse wave23
5893929407CrestTop of a transverse wave24
5893929438CompressionIn a longitudinal/compressional wave, such as with a spring or slinky, where the coils are closest together25
5893930921RarefactionIn a longitudinal/compressional wave, such as with a spring or slinky, where the coils are farthest apart (few molecules in medium)26
5893960034EquilibriumZero level27
5893977345VibrationA periodical motion between two points; the particles' motion in waves; creates waves28
5893982439MediumMaterial29
5894036667Tacoma Narrows Bridge30
5895492573ResonanceA dramatic increase of wave amplitude31
5895496815TravelingWaves where energy moves through a long distance32
5895499364EnergyIn waves, _______ is transported (not matter)33
5895506435Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)Simplest restoring force and motion that can be described by harmonic functions (sines and cosines)34

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