Introduction to Waves Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What do all waves transfer?

Energy and information, without transferring matter.

True or false? A water wave carries the water across the pond with it.

False. The water (matter) stays in place and only oscillates; the wave transfers energy.

What does a floating cork show about a water wave passing under it?

It bobs up and down about the same place, showing the water itself does not travel with the wave.

What evidence shows that air does not travel along with a sound wave?

Dust (or a flame) in front of a loudspeaker vibrates back and forth about a fixed position rather than being blown away.

What is a wavefront?

A line joining all the points on a wave that are at the same point in their oscillation, e.g. a line along a crest; it is at right angles to the direction of travel.