Mechanical Waves

Vocabulary: n  Terms along the margins on pages:

394 and 395

Wave properties

Waves in phase

Waves from a point source

Reflection

Transverse waves n  The direction of the oscillations are

perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s motion.

Energy in transverse waves

Longitudinal waves n  The direction of the oscillations is in the same

direction as the wave’s motion.

Reflection from fixed point

Interference n  Two moving waves can pass through

each other. n  When waves meet they interfere with

each other, creating interference.

Principle of superposition n  The displacement of the combined pulse at

each point of interference is the algebraic sum of the displacements of the individual pulses.

n  Superposition demonstration