Flashcards
Progressive waves
Cards in this deck (6)
- 1Define a progressive waveThe transfer of energy through a medium without moving the medium
- 2State the two types of progressive waves1. Transverse
2. Longitudinal - 3Explain a transverse waveOscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
Can only occur in solids
When modelled, equilibrium is the particle's rest position, maximum positive displacement from equilibrium is a peak/crest and maximum negative displacement from equilibrium is a trough - 4Explain a longitudinal waveOscillations parallel to the direction of energy transfer
Can travel in solids and fluids
Equilibrium = particle's rest position
Areas where particles are compressed are compressions; areas where particles are sparse are rarefactions - 5Explain phase differeneThe phase difference between two particles is the difference in the parts of the wave they are on
This is measured in terms of the angle along the wave
A phase difference of \(2\pi\) radians (or some multiple) means that the particles are "perfectly in phase" - they occupy the same position on different complete wave cycles
A phase difference of \(\pi\) radians (or some odd multiple) means that the particles are in "antiphase" ie their displacements are always opposite - 6What is a wave profile?A wave profile shows the positions of all the particles in a wave at a single instance of time.
The scale on the y-axis shows displacement from equilibrium and the scale on the x-axis shows distance along the wave
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- A-level OCR Physics A-level (Topic 4 - Electrons, waves and photons) Flashcards on Progressive waves, created by James Norman on 31/01/2019.
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- James Norman
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