Waves

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Waves
A way in which energy may be transferred between stores without transferring matter
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Oscillations
Repeated and regular fluctuations above and below a fixed point
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Vibrations
Repeated forwards and backwards movement about a fixed point
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Longitudinal Wave
A wave in which the vibrations or oscillations are parallel to the direction of the wave travel
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Examples of longitudinal waves
Sound
Ultrasound
Seismic P-waves
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Compression
A region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are closest together
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Rarefaction
A region in a longitudinal wave where the particles are furthest apart
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Transverse wave
A wave in which the vibrations or oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel
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Examples of transverse waves
Water waves
Vibrations along a string
Mexican Wave
Electromagnetic waves (Light waves, radio waves, microwaves etc.)
Seismic S-waves
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Mechanical Waves
Causes the particles in a solid, liquid or gas to oscillate and need medium to travel through
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Electromagnetic Waves
Causes electrical and magnetic fields to oscillate
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Rest Position
The position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating
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Displacement
The distance that a point of a wave has moved from its rest position
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Amplitude (a)
The maximum displacement of a point of a wave from its rest position
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Peak or crest
The largest displacement of a point of a wave above the rest position
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Trough
The largest displacement of a point of a wave below the rest position
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Wavelength (λ)
The distance covered by a full cycle of the wave
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Repeated and regular fluctuations above and below a fixed point

Back

Oscillations

Card 3

Front

Repeated forwards and backwards movement about a fixed point

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A wave in which the vibrations or oscillations are parallel to the direction of the wave travel

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Sound
Ultrasound
Seismic P-waves

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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