1Wave
A disturbance that carries energy from one place to another
2Travelling wave
A travelling wave, either electromagnetic or mechanical, is a disturbance that travels out from the source producing it, transferring Energy from the source to other places through which it travels
3Travelling mechanical wave
A disturbance carrying energy through a medium without any overall motion of that medium
4Electromagnetic Waves
Energy transmitted from one place to another at the speed of light (3×10⁸ ms -¹ in a vacuum)
5Frequency (of a wave)
the number of cycles passing per second
6Wavelength
The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave
7Amplitude (of a wave)
The maximum displacement of a wave from it's mean position
8Longitudinal Wave
A wave where the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction in which the wave travels
9Transverse Wave
A wave where the direction of vibration is perpendicular to the direction in which the wave travels
10❌ Amplitude
❌ How high the wave is
11❌ Wavelength
❌ Distance between 2 corresponding points on a wave
12Reflection of waves
The bouncing of waves off an obstacle in their path
13Refraction (of waves)
The changing direction of a wave when it enters a region where its speed changes
14Diffraction
The spreading out of a wave when it passes through a gap or passes by an obstacle
15Interference of waves
Occurs when waves from two sources meet to produce a wave of different amplitude
16Constructive Interference
Occurs when waves from two coherent sources meet to produce a wave of higher amplitude
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17Destructive Interference
Occurs when waves from two sources meet to produce a wave of lower amplitude
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18Interference Pattern
The wave pattern formed when waves from two or more coherent sources meet
19Coherent Sources
Two waves are said to be coherent if
they have the same frequency and are in phase or have a constant phase difference between them.
20Polarisation
The restriction of wave vibrations to one plane only
21Stationary Wave/Standing Wave
Formed when two periodic travelling waves of the same frequency and amplitude, travelling in opposite directions, meet and interfere
22Doppler Effect
The apparent change in the frequency of waves due to the relative motion of the source and the observer
23❓ Frequency of stationary waves
❓ The frequency of vibration of every vibrating particle on a stationary wave is the same.
The frequency or a stationary wave is the same as the frequency of the travelling wave producing it.