AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Periodic Waves

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Periodic 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 unit of wave speed?

Answer: Meters per second (m/s). Standard SI unit for velocity measurements.

Flashcard 2: What is the formula for the period of a wave?

Answer: $T = \frac{1}{f}$. Period is the reciprocal of frequency.

Flashcard 3: State the formula for the frequency of a wave.

Answer: $f = \frac{1}{T}$. Frequency is the reciprocal of period.

Flashcard 4: Find the wavelength if speed is 10 m/s and frequency is 2 Hz.

Answer: $\nu = 5$ m. Using $\lambda = \frac{v}{f} = \frac{10}{2} = 5$ m.

Flashcard 5: What is the amplitude of a wave?

Answer: The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position. Amplitude measures the strength of oscillation.

Flashcard 6: Calculate wavelength if wave speed is 20 m/s and frequency is 4 Hz.

Answer: $\nu = 5$ m. Using $\lambda = \frac{v}{f} = \frac{20}{4} = 5$ m.

Flashcard 7: What is the formula for intensity of a wave?

Answer: $I = \frac{P}{A}$. Intensity is power per unit area.

Flashcard 8: What is the principle of superposition?

Answer: Waves add their amplitudes when they overlap. Fundamental principle of wave interference.

Flashcard 9: Find the frequency of a wave with period 0.25 seconds.

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

Flashcard 10: Define frequency in terms of wave cycles.

Answer: Number of cycles per second. Measures how often the wave pattern repeats.

Flashcard 11: Define a longitudinal wave.

Answer: Wave with oscillations parallel to wave direction. Particle motion is along the direction of wave travel.

Flashcard 12: State the relationship between intensity and amplitude.

Answer: Intensity is proportional to amplitude squared. Energy carried by wave depends on amplitude squared.

Flashcard 13: Define constructive interference.

Answer: When two waves meet and their amplitudes add up. Waves combine to create larger amplitude.

Flashcard 14: What is the result of destructive interference?

Answer: Waves cancel each other out, reducing amplitude. Occurs when waves are out of phase.

Flashcard 15: What is the formula for the power of a wave?

Answer: $P = I \times A$. Power equals intensity times area.

Flashcard 16: What happens to frequency if the wavelength is doubled?

Answer: Frequency is halved, assuming constant speed. From $v = f\lambda$, if $\lambda$ doubles and $v$ constant, $f$ halves.

Flashcard 17: Define constructive interference.

Answer: When two waves meet and their amplitudes add up. Waves combine to create larger amplitude.

Flashcard 18: State the unit of amplitude.

Answer: Meters (m). Amplitude is a distance measurement.

Flashcard 19: What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature?

Answer: Approximately 343 m/s. Standard reference value for sound wave calculations.

Flashcard 20: What is the relationship between period and frequency?

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

Flashcard 21: Define a longitudinal wave.

Answer: Wave with oscillations parallel to wave direction. Particle motion is along the direction of wave travel.

Flashcard 22: What is the definition of a wavelength?

Answer: The distance between consecutive crests or troughs. One complete cycle of the wave pattern.

Flashcard 23: Calculate the frequency given a period of 0.5 seconds.

Answer: $f = 2$ Hz. Using $f = \frac{1}{T} = \frac{1}{0.5} = 2$ Hz.

Flashcard 24: Find the frequency of a wave with period 0.25 seconds.

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

Flashcard 25: What is the Doppler effect?

Answer: Change in frequency due to relative motion of source and observer. Apparent frequency shift due to motion.

Flashcard 26: What is a transverse wave?

Answer: Wave with oscillations perpendicular to wave direction. Particle motion is at right angles to wave propagation.

Flashcard 27: State the unit of wavelength.

Answer: Meters (m). Standard SI unit for distance measurements.

Flashcard 28: What is the formula for the power of a wave?

Answer: $P = I \times A$. Power equals intensity times area.

Flashcard 29: Determine the speed of a wave with wavelength 3 m and frequency 5 Hz.

Answer: $v = 15$ m/s. Using $v = f \times \lambda = 5 \times 3 = 15$ m/s.

Flashcard 30: Find the period if frequency is 0.25 Hz.

Answer: $T = 4$ s. Using $T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{0.25} = 4$ s.

Flashcard 31: What is the unit of frequency?

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

Flashcard 32: What is the amplitude of a wave?

Answer: The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position. Amplitude measures the strength of oscillation.

Flashcard 33: Find the speed of a wave with frequency 3 Hz and wavelength 2 m.

Answer: $v = 6$ m/s. Using $v = f \times \lambda = 3 \times 2 = 6$ m/s.

Flashcard 34: What is an antinode?

Answer: A point of maximum amplitude in a standing wave. Location of constructive interference in standing waves.

Flashcard 35: What is the phase difference in constructive interference?

Answer: Multiples of $2\text{π}$ radians. Waves are in phase for maximum reinforcement.

Flashcard 36: What is the formula for intensity of a wave?

Answer: $I = \frac{P}{A}$. Intensity is power per unit area.

Flashcard 37: Define node in a standing wave.

Answer: A point of zero amplitude. Location of destructive interference in standing waves.

Flashcard 38: What is the relationship between period and frequency?

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

Flashcard 39: Determine the period if the frequency is 5 Hz.

Answer: $T = 0.2$ s. Using $T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{5} = 0.2$ s.

Flashcard 40: State the relationship between intensity and amplitude.

Answer: Intensity is proportional to amplitude squared. Energy carried by wave depends on amplitude squared.

Flashcard 41: State the unit of wavelength.

Answer: Meters (m). Standard SI unit for distance measurements.

Flashcard 42: What is the formula for the period of a wave?

Answer: $T = \frac{1}{f}$. Period is the reciprocal of frequency.

Flashcard 43: Calculate the frequency given a period of 0.5 seconds.

Answer: $f = 2$ Hz. Using $f = \frac{1}{T} = \frac{1}{0.5} = 2$ Hz.

Flashcard 44: What is the phase difference in destructive interference?

Answer: Odd multiples of $\text{π}$ radians. Waves are out of phase for cancellation.

Flashcard 45: What is the unit of wave speed?

Answer: Meters per second (m/s). Standard SI unit for velocity measurements.

Flashcard 46: What is a transverse wave?

Answer: Wave with oscillations perpendicular to wave direction. Particle motion is at right angles to wave propagation.

Flashcard 47: Define wavefront.

Answer: A surface over which an oscillation has a constant phase. Represents points of equal phase in wave propagation.

Flashcard 48: What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature?

Answer: Approximately 343 m/s. Standard reference value for sound wave calculations.

Flashcard 49: What is the phase difference in constructive interference?

Answer: Multiples of $2\text{π}$ radians. Waves are in phase for maximum reinforcement.

Flashcard 50: Calculate the wave speed if wavelength is 4 m and period is 0.5 s.

Answer: $v = 8$ m/s. Using $v = \frac{\lambda}{T} = \frac{4}{0.5} = 8$ m/s.

Flashcard 51: Find the speed of a wave with frequency 3 Hz and wavelength 2 m.

Answer: $v = 6$ m/s. Using $v = f \times \lambda = 3 \times 2 = 6$ m/s.

Flashcard 52: Determine the speed of a wave with wavelength 3 m and frequency 5 Hz.

Answer: $v = 15$ m/s. Using $v = f \times \lambda = 5 \times 3 = 15$ m/s.

Flashcard 53: Find the wavelength if speed is 10 m/s and frequency is 2 Hz.

Answer: $\nu = 5$ m. Using $\lambda = \frac{v}{f} = \frac{10}{2} = 5$ m.

Flashcard 54: What is the phase difference in destructive interference?

Answer: Odd multiples of $\text{π}$ radians. Waves are out of phase for cancellation.

Flashcard 55: What is an antinode?

Answer: A point of maximum amplitude in a standing wave. Location of constructive interference in standing waves.

Flashcard 56: Determine the period if the frequency is 5 Hz.

Answer: $T = 0.2$ s. Using $T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{5} = 0.2$ s.

Flashcard 57: Calculate the wave speed if wavelength is 4 m and period is 0.5 s.

Answer: $v = 8$ m/s. Using $v = \frac{\lambda}{T} = \frac{4}{0.5} = 8$ m/s.

Flashcard 58: Find the period if frequency is 0.25 Hz.

Answer: $T = 4$ s. Using $T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{0.25} = 4$ s.

Flashcard 59: State the formula for the frequency of a wave.

Answer: $f = \frac{1}{T}$. Frequency is the reciprocal of period.

Flashcard 60: Define frequency in terms of wave cycles.

Answer: Number of cycles per second. Measures how often the wave pattern repeats.

Flashcard 61: Define node in a standing wave.

Answer: A point of zero amplitude. Location of destructive interference in standing waves.

Flashcard 62: What is the Doppler effect?

Answer: Change in frequency due to relative motion of source and observer. Apparent frequency shift due to motion.

Flashcard 63: What happens to frequency if the wavelength is doubled?

Answer: Frequency is halved, assuming constant speed. From $v = f\lambda$, if $\lambda$ doubles and $v$ constant, $f$ halves.

Flashcard 64: Calculate wavelength if wave speed is 20 m/s and frequency is 4 Hz.

Answer: $\nu = 5$ m. Using $\lambda = \frac{v}{f} = \frac{20}{4} = 5$ m.

Flashcard 65: What is the result of destructive interference?

Answer: Waves cancel each other out, reducing amplitude. Occurs when waves are out of phase.

Flashcard 66: State the unit of amplitude.

Answer: Meters (m). Amplitude is a distance measurement.

Flashcard 67: What is the definition of a wavelength?

Answer: The distance between consecutive crests or troughs. One complete cycle of the wave pattern.

Flashcard 68: Define wavefront.

Answer: A surface over which an oscillation has a constant phase. Represents points of equal phase in wave propagation.

Flashcard 69: What is the principle of superposition?

Answer: Waves add their amplitudes when they overlap. Fundamental principle of wave interference.