Section 3:
-Waves
A progressive wave (moving wave) carries energy from one place to
another without transferring any material. A wave is caused by
something making particles or fields oscillate at a source. These
oscillations pass through the medium as the wave travels, carrying Diffracted wave
energy with it.
A wave transfers energy away from its source – hence the source of the
wave loses energy.
Quantities for waves
Displacement, measured in meters
How far a point on the wave has moved from its undisturbed position.
Refracted wave
Amplitude, measured in meters
The amplitude is the maximum magnitude of the displacement, the
distance from the undisturbed point to the crest, or trough.
Wavelength, measured in meters
The length of one whole wave oscillation or wave cycle, the distance
between two crests of a wave.
Period, measured in seconds
Reflected waves
The time taken for one whole wave cycle.
Frequency, measured in Hz
The number of whole wave cycles passing a given point per second
Phase
A measurement of the position of a certain point along the wave
cycle.
Phase difference
The amount of which one wave lags behind another one, the
difference between two corresponding points on a wave. The
phase difference can be measured in angles (degrees or radians)
or in fractions of a cycle.
-Waves
A progressive wave (moving wave) carries energy from one place to
another without transferring any material. A wave is caused by
something making particles or fields oscillate at a source. These
oscillations pass through the medium as the wave travels, carrying Diffracted wave
energy with it.
A wave transfers energy away from its source – hence the source of the
wave loses energy.
Quantities for waves
Displacement, measured in meters
How far a point on the wave has moved from its undisturbed position.
Refracted wave
Amplitude, measured in meters
The amplitude is the maximum magnitude of the displacement, the
distance from the undisturbed point to the crest, or trough.
Wavelength, measured in meters
The length of one whole wave oscillation or wave cycle, the distance
between two crests of a wave.
Period, measured in seconds
Reflected waves
The time taken for one whole wave cycle.
Frequency, measured in Hz
The number of whole wave cycles passing a given point per second
Phase
A measurement of the position of a certain point along the wave
cycle.
Phase difference
The amount of which one wave lags behind another one, the
difference between two corresponding points on a wave. The
phase difference can be measured in angles (degrees or radians)
or in fractions of a cycle.
