Physics Termz

Question 1

Amplitude

Answer 1

The height of a wave above equilibrium -relates directly to the energy contained in a wave

Question 2

Wavelength

Answer 2

Distance between two crests on a wave

Question 3

Frequency

Answer 3

The number of times that an oscillation repeats in one second - measured in hertz (Hz)

Question 4

Period

Answer 4

The time that it takes for an oscillation to occur

Question 5

Transverse wave

Answer 5

Waves that travel by causing particles to oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel

Question 6

Longitudinal wave

Answer 6

Waves that travel by causing particles to vibrate parallel to the direction of
wave travel.

Question 7

Mechanical wave

Answer 7

A wave that requires a medium through which to travel.

Question 8

Medium

Answer 8

A continuous collection of particles of the same type

Question 9

Polarization

Answer 9

The selective filtering of waves whose particles move in a specific direction.

Question 10

Pulse

Answer 10

A single vibratory disturbance of a medium

Question 11

Interference

Answer 11

An interaction between pulses or waves that meet as they travel toward one
diffraction another in a medium.

Question 12

Anti-node

Answer 12

A point on a standing wave that is in a perpetual state of destructive interference.

Question 13

Refraction

Answer 13

The bending of wave fronts when moving between two mediums of different density or speed.

Question 14

Diffraction

Answer 14

This occurs when waves encounter boundaries and also when waves pass into new mediums.

Question 15

Doppler effect

Answer 15

An apparent change in the frequency of a source of waves due to the motion of
the source or observer

Question 16

Resonance

Answer 16

A state that is reached by vibrating a medium at its natural frequency.

Question 17

Standing wave

Answer 17

A wave that is produced by a combination of reflection and interference.

Question 18

Node

Answer 18

A point on a standing wave that experiences maximum displacement

Question 19

Reflection

Answer 19

The bending of waves around corners or barriers - understood using Huygen’s
Principle.

Question 20

Weight

Question 20

Mass

Question 21

Internal energy

Question 22

Work

Question 23

Power

Question 24

Parallel circuit

Question 25

Frequency

Question 25

Momentum

Question 25

Series circuit

Question 25

Period

Question 26

Wavelength

Question 27

Charge

Answer 27

q

Question 28

Vector

Question 29

Scalar