Sections
Key Terms
Key Terms
- antinode
- location of maximum amplitude in standing waves
- constructive interference
- when two waves arrive at the same point exactly in phase; that is, the crests of the two waves are precisely aligned, as are the troughs
- destructive interference
- when two identical waves arrive at the same point exactly out of phase that is precisely aligned crest to trough
- inversion
- vertical flipping of a wave after reflection from a fixed end
- longitudinal wave
- wave in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation
- mechanical wave
- wave that requires a medium through which it can travel
- medium
- solid, liquid, or gas material through which a wave propagates
- nodes
- points where the string does not move; more generally, points where the wave disturbance is zero in a standing wave
- periodic wave
- wave that repeats the same oscillation for several cycles and is associated with simple harmonic motion
- pulse wave
- sudden disturbance with only one wave or a few waves generated
- reflection
- change in direction of a wave at a boundary or fixed end
- refraction
- bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another medium with a different density
- standing wave
- wave made by the superposition of two waves of the same amplitude and wavelength moving in opposite directions and which appears to vibrate in place
- superposition
- phenomenon that occurs when two or more waves arrive at the same point
- transverse wave
- wave in which the disturbance is perpendicular to the direction of propagation
- wave
- disturbance that moves from its source and carries energy
- wave velocity
- speed at which the disturbance moves; also called the propagation velocity or propagation speed
- wavelength
- distance between adjacent identical parts of a wave