6.1 waves in air fluids and solids Flashcards
What are the two types of waves?
- Transverse
- Longitudinal
What is a transverse wave?
A wave for which the oscillations are
perpendicular to the direction of energy
transfer.
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave for which the oscillations are
parallel to the direction of energy
transfer.
Give two examples of transverse waves.
- Electromagnetic waves
- Seismic s-waves
Give two examples of longitudinal
waves
- Sound waves
- Seismic p-waves
What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?
Compressions and rarefactions.
what is a waves amplitude
The maximum displacement of a point
on a wave from its undisturbed position.
What is wavelength?
● The distance from a point on a wave to
the same position on the adjacent
wave
● Most commonly peak to peak or
trough to trough
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of waves that pass a given point each second.
What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?
200 waves pass a given point each
second.
What is wave speed?
The speed at which the wave moves
What does a wave transfer?
energy
What word is used to describe when a wave
bounces off a surface?
Reflection
How do sound waves travel through a solid?
The particles in the solid vibrate and
transfer kinetic energy through the
material.
What is the frequency range of human
hearing?
20 Hz - 20kHz
What are ultrasound waves?
Waves which have a frequency higher
than the upper limit of human hearing
Give an example use for ultrasound waves?
Medical or industrial imaging.
What natural event causes seismic
waves to be produced? What types are
produced?
● Earthquakes
● They produce both P-waves and
S-waves
State a difference between the mediums that P-waves and S-waves can travel
through
P-waves travel through both solids and liquids
● S-waves only travel through solids
(not liquids)
What technique is used to detect objects
in deep water and measure water depth?
Echo sounding
what is echo sounding
High frequency sound waves are emitted, reflected and detected
● Time difference between emission and detection,
alongside wave speed, are used to calculate
distances
how are sound
