Conceptual Physics, High School Edition Chapter 25
Motion of an object that regularly repeats The object returns to a given position after a fixed time interval Interchangeable terms: ◦ periodic motion ◦ oscillatory motion ◦ simple harmonic motion
undisturbed/resting position The place where the object would rest if it were not oscillating Mass on a spring: midpoint of oscillation Pendulum: lowest point in the swing
A is the amplitude of the motion Maximum or minimum position from equilibrium of the object Mass on a spring: vertical distance from equilibrium to either highest or lowest point in its oscillation Pendulum: vertical distance from equilibrium to highest point in its swing
T time interval required for the object to go through one full cycle of its motion
The inverse of the period number of oscillations that the object undergoes per unit time interval (you pick the time interval)
Oscillations are the source of waves Only energy is transferred over a distance Matter is not transferred over a distance ◦ Particles in the wave move in periodic motion, but aren’t transferred over distance
A single bump is formed by flicking the end and travels along the rope ◦ The bump is called a pulse The rope is the medium through which the pulse travels The pulse has a definite height: amplitude The pulse has a definite speed of propagation along the medium continuous flicking of the rope = oscillation of your hand, produces a wave
elements of the disturbed medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave itself: transverse wave
elements of the disturbed medium move parallel to the direction of the wave itself: longitudinal wave
crest of the wave: location of the maximum displacement of the medium from equilibrium This distance = amplitude, A wavelength,, is the distance from one crest to the next (or between identical points)
ƒ, frequency the number of crests (or any successive point on the wave) that pass a given point in a unit time interval
T, period The time it takes for one complete wave to pass a point in space (e.g. time from one crest passing to the next)