MCAT Physics Ch. 7 Waves & Sound

Have oscillations of wave particles perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation (ex: "The Wave" in a crowd, or electromagnetic waves)

Have oscillations of wave particles parallel to the direction of wave propagation (ex: sound waves)

How far a point is from the equilibrium position (no displacement), expressed as a vector quantity

The magnitude of its maximal displacement

The maximum point of a wave (point of most positive displacement).

The minimum point of a wave (point of most negative displacement)

The distance between 2 crests or 2 troughs

The number of cycles it makes per second. Expressed in Hertz (Hz)

Another way of expressing frequency of a wave. Expressed in radians per second.

The number of seconds it takes to complete a cycle. The inverse of frequency (T = 1/f).

The way in which waves interact in space to form a resultant wave (the sum of the multiple waves)

• Constructive Interference
• Destructive Interference
• Partially Constructive or Partially Destructive Interference

Occurs when waves are exactly in phase w/ each other (phase difference in zero).. The amplitude of the resultant wave is equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the 2 interfering waves

Occurs when waves are exactly out of phase w/ each other (the phase difference is one-half of a wave, or λ/2, or if given as an angle, 180 degrees). The amplitude of the resultant wave is equal to the difference in amplitude between the 2 interfering waves.

Occurs when 2 waves are not quite perfectly in or out of phase w/ each other. The displacement of the resultant wave is equal to the sum of the displacement of the 2 interfering waves

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