AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Properties Of Wave Pulses And Waves

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Properties Of Wave Pulses And Waves, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the definition of a wave pulse?

Answer: A single disturbance that moves through a medium. Unlike periodic waves, it's a one-time disturbance.

Flashcard 2: What is the formula for calculating period?

Answer: $T = \frac{1}{f}$. Period and frequency are reciprocals.

Flashcard 3: Identify the unit for wave speed.

Answer: Meters per second (m/s). Distance traveled per unit time.

Flashcard 4: What is the period of a wave?

Answer: The time for one complete cycle of the wave. Measured in seconds for one oscillation.

Flashcard 5: What is constructive interference?

Answer: When waves add up to make a larger amplitude. Waves in phase create reinforcement.

Flashcard 6: What does the speed of sound depend on?

Answer: Temperature and medium properties. Sound speed increases with temperature in gases.

Flashcard 7: Calculate the frequency if the period of a wave is 0.25 s.

Answer: $f = 4 \text{ Hz}$. Using $f = 1/T = 1/0.25$.

Flashcard 8: What does the term 'wavefront' refer to?

Answer: A line of points in phase with each other. Represents wave's advancing edge or crest.

Flashcard 9: What is the Doppler effect?

Answer: Change in frequency due to relative motion of source and observer. Observer hears higher pitch when source approaches.

Flashcard 10: What is the difference between pulse and periodic wave?

Answer: A pulse is a single disturbance; a periodic wave is a continuous disturbance. Pulse is single event, periodic wave repeats.

Flashcard 11: Find the wave speed if the wavelength is 2 m and frequency is 5 Hz.

Answer: $v = 10 \text{ m/s}$. Using $v = f\lambda = 5 \times 2$.

Flashcard 12: Calculate the speed of a wave with a period of 2 s and wavelength of 4 m.

Answer: $v = 2 \text{ m/s}$. Using $v = \lambda/T = 4/2$.

Flashcard 13: Find the wavelength if the wave speed is 340 m/s and frequency is 680 Hz.

Answer: $\lambda = 0.5 \text{ m}$. Using $v = f\lambda$, so $\lambda = v/f = 340/680$.

Flashcard 14: Find the wavelength if the wave speed is 340 m/s and frequency is 680 Hz.

Answer: $\lambda = 0.5 \text{ m}$. Using $v = f\lambda$, so $\lambda = v/f = 340/680$.

Flashcard 15: Calculate the frequency if the period of a wave is 0.25 s.

Answer: $f = 4 \text{ Hz}$. Using $f = 1/T = 1/0.25$.

Flashcard 16: Identify the part of the wave where compression occurs.

Answer: In a longitudinal wave, it is a region of high pressure. Particles are squeezed together in this region.

Flashcard 17: Identify the unit for wave speed.

Answer: Meters per second (m/s). Distance traveled per unit time.

Flashcard 18: What is an antinode in a standing wave?

Answer: A point of maximum amplitude in a standing wave. Located between nodes in standing wave patterns.

Flashcard 19: What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer: A wave with oscillations parallel to wave direction. Sound waves are the primary example.

Flashcard 20: State the relationship between frequency and wavelength for constant speed.

Answer: Frequency inversely proportional to wavelength. From $v = f\lambda$, if $v$ constant then $f \propto 1/\lambda$.

Flashcard 21: What is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI)?

Answer: Hertz (Hz). Named after Heinrich Hertz, equals cycles per second.

Flashcard 22: What is the formula for calculating period?

Answer: $T = \frac{1}{f}$. Period and frequency are reciprocals.

Flashcard 23: What type of wave requires a medium to propagate?

Answer: Mechanical wave. Sound waves and water waves are examples.

Flashcard 24: What is destructive interference?

Answer: When waves subtract to make a smaller amplitude. Waves out of phase create cancellation.

Flashcard 25: Identify the part of the wave where compression occurs.

Answer: In a longitudinal wave, it is a region of high pressure. Particles are squeezed together in this region.

Flashcard 26: What is the wavelength of a wave?

Answer: The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs. One complete cycle measures this distance.

Flashcard 27: What is refraction in terms of waves?

Answer: Change in wave direction when it enters a different medium. Speed and direction change at medium boundaries.

Flashcard 28: What is the period of a wave?

Answer: The time for one complete cycle of the wave. Measured in seconds for one oscillation.

Flashcard 29: What is resonance in waves?

Answer: Amplification of a wave when frequency matches natural frequency of the system. Natural frequency matching creates maximum amplitude response.

Flashcard 30: Identify the unit for wavelength.

Answer: Meters (m). Distance unit in the metric system.

Flashcard 31: State the formula for wave speed.

Answer: $v = f \lambda$. Speed equals frequency times wavelength.

Flashcard 32: What is the principle of wave reflection?

Answer: Waves bounce back when they hit a boundary. Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection.

Flashcard 33: Find the wave speed if the wavelength is 2 m and frequency is 5 Hz.

Answer: $v = 10 \text{ m/s}$. Using $v = f\lambda = 5 \times 2$.

Flashcard 34: State the relationship between frequency and wavelength for constant speed.

Answer: Frequency inversely proportional to wavelength. From $v = f\lambda$, if $v$ constant then $f \propto 1/\lambda$.

Flashcard 35: Identify the phase difference between two in-phase waves.

Answer: 0 radians. Waves perfectly aligned create maximum constructive interference.

Flashcard 36: What is a node in a standing wave?

Answer: A point of zero amplitude in a standing wave. Created by interference between incident and reflected waves.

Flashcard 37: State the formula for frequency in terms of period.

Answer: $f = \frac{1}{T}$. Frequency and period are reciprocals.

Flashcard 38: What is constructive interference?

Answer: When waves add up to make a larger amplitude. Waves in phase create reinforcement.

Flashcard 39: State the formula for frequency in terms of period.

Answer: $f = \frac{1}{T}$. Frequency and period are reciprocals.

Flashcard 40: What is destructive interference?

Answer: When waves subtract to make a smaller amplitude. Waves out of phase create cancellation.

Flashcard 41: What is the amplitude of a wave?

Answer: The maximum displacement from equilibrium position. Determines the wave's energy and intensity.

Flashcard 42: What is refraction in terms of waves?

Answer: Change in wave direction when it enters a different medium. Speed and direction change at medium boundaries.

Flashcard 43: What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer: A wave with oscillations parallel to wave direction. Sound waves are the primary example.

Flashcard 44: State the formula for wave speed.

Answer: $v = f \lambda$. Speed equals frequency times wavelength.

Flashcard 45: What is the definition of a wave pulse?

Answer: A single disturbance that moves through a medium. Unlike periodic waves, it's a one-time disturbance.

Flashcard 46: State the formula for wave speed in terms of frequency and wavelength.

Answer: $v = f \lambda$. Fundamental wave relationship for all wave types.

Flashcard 47: Identify the unit for wavelength.

Answer: Meters (m). Distance unit in the metric system.

Flashcard 48: Which type of wave does not require a medium?

Answer: Electromagnetic wave. Light waves can travel through vacuum.

Flashcard 49: What is a transverse wave?

Answer: A wave with oscillations perpendicular to wave direction. Like waves on a string or water surface.

Flashcard 50: What is the principle of superposition?

Answer: The sum of individual wave displacements at any point. Waves combine algebraically at each point.

Flashcard 51: What is the definition of frequency?

Answer: The number of waves passing a point per second. Measured in cycles per second or Hertz.

Flashcard 52: What does the symbol $\lambda$ represent in wave equations?

Answer: Wavelength. Greek letter lambda denotes this wave property.

Flashcard 53: What is the definition of frequency?

Answer: The number of waves passing a point per second. Measured in cycles per second or Hertz.

Flashcard 54: What does the term 'wavefront' refer to?

Answer: A line of points in phase with each other. Represents wave's advancing edge or crest.

Flashcard 55: What is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI)?

Answer: Hertz (Hz). Named after Heinrich Hertz, equals cycles per second.

Flashcard 56: What is resonance in waves?

Answer: Amplification of a wave when frequency matches natural frequency of the system. Natural frequency matching creates maximum amplitude response.

Flashcard 57: What is the difference between pulse and periodic wave?

Answer: A pulse is a single disturbance; a periodic wave is a continuous disturbance. Pulse is single event, periodic wave repeats.

Flashcard 58: Which type of wave does not require a medium?

Answer: Electromagnetic wave. Light waves can travel through vacuum.

Flashcard 59: What is the wavelength of a wave?

Answer: The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs. One complete cycle measures this distance.

Flashcard 60: What does the symbol $\lambda$ represent in wave equations?

Answer: Wavelength. Greek letter lambda denotes this wave property.

Flashcard 61: Identify the phase difference between two in-phase waves.

Answer: 0 radians. Waves perfectly aligned create maximum constructive interference.

Flashcard 62: What is a node in a standing wave?

Answer: A point of zero amplitude in a standing wave. Created by interference between incident and reflected waves.

Flashcard 63: What is the phase difference for destructive interference?

Answer: $\pi$ radians (180 degrees). Half-cycle difference causes complete cancellation.

Flashcard 64: What type of wave requires a medium to propagate?

Answer: Mechanical wave. Sound waves and water waves are examples.

Flashcard 65: What is the principle of wave reflection?

Answer: Waves bounce back when they hit a boundary. Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection.

Flashcard 66: State the formula for wave speed in terms of frequency and wavelength.

Answer: $v = f \lambda$. Fundamental wave relationship for all wave types.

Flashcard 67: What does the speed of sound depend on?

Answer: Temperature and medium properties. Sound speed increases with temperature in gases.

Flashcard 68: Calculate the speed of a wave with a period of 2 s and wavelength of 4 m.

Answer: $v = 2 \text{ m/s}$. Using $v = \lambda/T = 4/2$.

Flashcard 69: What is an antinode in a standing wave?

Answer: A point of maximum amplitude in a standing wave. Located between nodes in standing wave patterns.