Wednesday, 21 October 2020, 1:42 AM
Site: The Science Portal: 21C Science with Style
Course: The Science Portal: 21C Science with Style (21CScience)
Glossary: IB Physics Glossary
W

#### Wave amplitude

is the maximum displacement of a particle from its rest/equilibrium position. (d)

#### Wave displacement

distance of an oscillating particle from its mean/equilibrium position. (d)

#### Wave frequency

$$f$$, is the number of oscillations of the wave source or of a particle per unit time. (d)

#### Wave intensity

is the rate of flow of energy across a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation such that $$I \propto \text{Wave Amplitude}^2$$. (d)

#### Wave period

$$T$$, is the time for one complete oscillation/cycle. (d)

#### Wave speed

$$v$$, is the rate at which energy is transferred by the wave or the distance traveled by a wavefront per unit time. (d)
$$v=\lambda \times f$$.

#### Wavelength

$$\lambda$$, is the distance moved by a wavefront during one oscillation of the wave source or the distance between consecutive neighboring successive points which are in phase. (d)

#### Weight

is the force of gravity acting on a mass: $$W=m g$$, m is the mass, g is the gravitational field strength $$\equiv$$ acceleration due to gravity.
Its value does change with the strength of gravity. Identical objects on Earth and on the Moon have different weight values. Its SI unit is the Newton (N).

#### Work

is force × distance (moved) in the direction of the force. (d)

#### Work done by a gas

is given by $$W = P \Delta V$$.

For an expansion, $$\Delta V > 0 \Rightarrow W > 0$$, work is done by the gas.

For a compression, $$\Delta V < 0 \Rightarrow W < 0$$, work is done on the gas.

Derivation

Consider a gas in a closed container with a piston of area A in contact with the gas.

1. The gas expands, via some thermodynamic process, and the piston is displaced by $$\Delta x$$.

2. The gas does work on the piston (heat is converted into mechanical energy).

3. The work done is $$W=F \times s$$, ie. force x displacement:

$$W = F \Delta x$$.

4. Recall the pressure exerted by the gas is given by $$P=\frac{F}{A}$$, force per unit area. Therefore $$F = P A$$.

5. $$W = F \times s = (P A) \times \Delta x = P (A \Delta x) = P \Delta V$$, since $$A \Delta x$$ is the change in volume of the gas.