Describing Wave Motion Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

Define the frequency of a wave and state its unit.

The number of waves passing a point each second; measured in hertz (Hz).

Define the wavelength of a wave.

The distance from one point on a wave to the same point on the next wave (e.g. crest to crest); measured in metres.

What is the amplitude of a wave?

The maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed (rest) position.

What is a wavefront?

A line joining points on a wave that are all at the same point in their oscillation (e.g. all the crests); it is perpendicular to the direction of travel.

What is the period of a wave?

The time taken for one complete wave (one full cycle) to pass a point, measured in seconds.