PHYS 2B Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Mechanical Wave, Longitudinal Wave, Standing Wave
Document Summary
Mechanical wave: a disturbance that travels through some material or substance. Medium: the material or substance for the wave. Transverse wave: the displacements of the medium are perpendicular or transverse to the direction of travel of the wave along the medium. Longitudinal wave: the motions of the particles of the medium are back and forth along the same direction that the wave travels. Periodic wave: each particle in the string also undergoes periodic motion as the wave propagates. Sinusoidal waves: periodic waves with simple harmonic motion. Boundary conditions: the conditions at the end of the string. Nodes: particular points that never move at all. Standing wave: wave pattern is not moving in either direction along the string. Destructive interference: when the two waves cancel each other out. Constructive interference: when two waves come together to create a large resultant displacement.
