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
- fixed boundary condition
- when the medium at a boundary is fixed in place so it cannot move
- free boundary condition
- exists when the medium at the boundary is free to move
- fundamental frequency
- lowest frequency that will produce a standing wave
- intensity (I)
- power per unit area
- interference
- overlap of two or more waves at the same point and time
- linear wave equation
- equation describing waves that result from a linear restoring force of the medium; any function that is a solution to the wave equation describes a wave moving in the positive x-direction or the negative x-direction with a constant wave speed v
- longitudinal wave
- wave in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation
- mechanical wave
- wave that is governed by Newton’s laws and requires a medium
- node
- point where the string does not move; more generally, nodes are where the wave disturbance is zero in a standing wave
- normal mode
- possible standing wave pattern for a standing wave on a string
- overtone
- frequency that produces standing waves and is higher than the fundamental frequency
- pulse
- single disturbance that moves through a medium, transferring energy but not mass
- standing wave
- wave that can bounce back and forth through a particular region, effectively becoming stationary
- 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 function
- mathematical model of the position of particles of the medium
- wave number
- wave speed
- magnitude of the wave velocity
- wave velocity
- velocity at which the disturbance moves; also called the propagation velocity
- wavelength
- distance between adjacent identical parts of a wave