Save
Busy. Please wait.
Log in with Clever
or
show password
Forgot Password?
Don't have an account?  Sign up 
Sign up using Clever
or
Username is available taken
show password


Make sure to remember your password. If you forget it there is no way for StudyStack to send you a reset link. You would need to create a new account. Your email address is only used to allow you to reset your password. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Already a StudyStack user? Log In

Reset Password
Enter the associated with your account, and we'll email you a link to reset your password.
focusNode
Didn't know it?
click below
 
Knew it?
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
0:00
edit
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

  Normal Size     Small Size show me how

Basic Waves

foundation GCSE and iGCSE waves

QuestionAnswer
A TRANSVERSE wave has vibrations that are at right angles to the direction of travel of the wave.
You find crests and troughs in a transverse wave
A LONGITUDINAL (or compression) wave has vibrations that are parallel to the direction of travel of the wave.
You find compressions and rarefactions in a longitudinal wave.
One noisy example of a longitudinal wave is sound.
One wet example of a transverse wave is surface water waves.
Frequency is defined as the number of vibrations (or waves) per second.
The unit of frequency is Hertz (Hz)
Speed is defined as distance travelled per second.
Units for speed could be metres per second or cm/s
Wavelength is the distance from crest to crest.
The symbol for wavelength is the Greek letter called lambda (= lower case L)
The wave equation is velocity (or speed) = frequency times wavelength.
We can calculate frequency from velocity (or speed) divided by wavelength.
Take speed of sound = 300 m/s. If it is 5 seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder, then the distance away is speed times time = 1500 metres.
If a water wave has a frequency of 6 Hz, and a wavelength of 2 cm, its speed is 12 cm/s
If a sound wave in water travels at 1000 m/s and its frequency is 2000 Hz then its wavelength is 0.5 m
Lowest frequency for normal human hearing = 20 Hz
Highest frequency for normal human hearing = 20 000 Hz = 20 kiloHertz
Sound with frequency greater than 20 kHz is called ultrasound
Sound with frequency lower than 20 Hz is called infrasound
Speeds greater than the speed of sound are called supersonic.
Echo is a word for sound reflection.
Sonar is a system that uses sound reflections to measure distance.
If sound in seawater travels at 1000 m/s and a pulse takes 5 seconds to return from the sea bottom the depth is 2500 m (remember it goes there and back)
Ultrasound scans use ultrasound because it has a small wavelength.
Dish shaped (inside of dish!) reflectors are called concave.
Refraction is change of direction because of change of speed.
Name for wave spreading out as it goes through gap is diffraction.
If the gap is wide compared with wavelength then the amount of diffraction is small.
Sound diffracts through doorways, light doesn't because wavelength of sound is much larger than wavelength of light.
We ignore the time for the light to travel compared with the sound because light travels a million times faster than sound.
You can't hear sound on the Moon because there is no air on the Moon.
Does a water wave travel more slowly or faster in more shallow water? more slowly.
What causes a wave? vibrations
Created by: waslancing
Popular Physics sets

 

 



Voices

Use these flashcards to help memorize information. Look at the large card and try to recall what is on the other side. Then click the card to flip it. If you knew the answer, click the green Know box. Otherwise, click the red Don't know box.

When you've placed seven or more cards in the Don't know box, click "retry" to try those cards again.

If you've accidentally put the card in the wrong box, just click on the card to take it out of the box.

You can also use your keyboard to move the cards as follows:

If you are logged in to your account, this website will remember which cards you know and don't know so that they are in the same box the next time you log in.

When you need a break, try one of the other activities listed below the flashcards like Matching, Snowman, or Hungry Bug. Although it may feel like you're playing a game, your brain is still making more connections with the information to help you out.

To see how well you know the information, try the Quiz or Test activity.

Pass complete!
"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries:
restart all cards