Waves Poster

Waves Poster

Mathew Gora

Wave Characteristics:

Mechanical Wave - A wave that is not capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum. Electromagnetic Wave - waves that are created as a result of vibrations between an electric field and a magnetic field.

A wavelength is the distance between successive parts of a wave - Crest to Crest; Trough to Trough. Frequency is the number of cycles or oscillations per second.

The difference between transverse and longitudal waves is that the particles in transversal waves move perpendicularly to the direciton of the waves while longitudal move parrallel.

Speed of Wave - V = fλv = velocity f = frequency λ = wavelength

Sound

Is a Longitudal wave that travels faster the more densely packed molecules are. Goes slow through gases since the molecules are loose and spread out.

Reflection is when a wave bounces off of a flat surface. Diffraction is when waves splits into a few more waves.

The Doppler Effect is the apparent change in frequency of a wave caused by the relative motion between the wave's source and the observer. Example: When the blaring siren of an ambulance passes by a bystander. They dont hear it well until it's close to them, but after that they continue to hear it as it goes away.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

EM waves travel 3.0 * 108 meters per second through a vacuum.

Gamma - Carry large amounts of energy; f = 10^-12 X- Ray - Used in medicine; f = 10^-10 Ultraviolet - Helps produce vitamin D and can cause cancer; f = 10^-8 Visible - The light that humans can see; f = 0.5*10^-6 Infrared - Absorbed by us and other things for heat; f = 10^-5 Microwave - Used for microwaving food and radar; f = 10^-2 Radio - Used for AM and FM radio stations and tv; f = 10^3