7.1 General Wave Characteristics

Question 1

Transverse waves

Answer 1

the particles of the wave oscillate perpendicular to the propagation of the wave

Question 2

longitudinal waves

Answer 2

The particles of the wave oscillate parallel to the direction of propagation

includes cycles of compression and refraction

Question 3

examples of transverse waves

Answer 3

electromagnetic waves (including visible light, microwaves, and x-rays)

Question 4

example of longitudinal waves

Answer 4

sound waves

Question 5

what type of wave is visible light?

Answer 5

transverse waves

Question 6

what type of wave are sound waves?

Answer 6

longitudinal waves

Question 7

Wavelength (λ)

Answer 7

the distance from one maximum (crest) of the wave to the next

1/frequency

Question 8

frequency (f):

Answer 8

1 / wavelength

the number of wavelengths passing a fixed point per second

Unit: hertz (Hz), or cycles per second (cps)

Question 9

amplitude (A)

Answer 9

the maximum magnitude of displacement in a wave

Question 10

“in phase” vs “out of phase”

Answer 10

if the crests of two waves pass the same point or line at the same time, they are in phase

Question 11

Principle of superposition

Answer 11

when two or more waves overlap in space, the displacement of the resultant wave at any point is the sum of the displacements of the interacting waves

Question 12

Constructive interference

Answer 12

the maxima of two waves (in phase) add together so that the amplitude of the resulting wave is equal to the sum of the individual amplitudes

Question 13

destructive interference

Answer 13

a positive displacement of one wave is cancelled exactly by a negative displacement of the other wave

the amplitude of the resulting wave is zero

Question 14

sound

Answer 14

a longitudinal wave transmitted by the oscillation of particles in a deformable medium

(sound cannot travel through a vacuum)

Question 15

speed of sound equation

Answer 15

Question 16

sound travels fastest through ____________ and slowest through __________

Answer 16

sound travels fastest through a solid with low density and slowest through a gas with high density

Question 17

propogation speed (v) of a wave
formula

Answer 17

v = f λ
frequency x wavelength

Question 18

period (T)

defintion

Answer 18

the number of seconds per cycle

the inverse of frequency

Question 19

period (T)

equation

Answer 19

T = 1/f

(the inverse of frequency)

Question 20

standing waves

Answer 20

can form when two waves of equal amplitude and frequency are travelling in opposite directions

different ampitudes, same phase

the nodes stay the same

kind of lookes like the waves are “flipping” above and below the line

Question 21

travelling wave

Answer 21

have continuously shifting points of maximum and minimum displacement

amplitude of each particle is the same

size of the waves are the same and it looks like the whole thing is moving to the right as the nodes move

Question 22

nodes

Answer 22

points with no oscillation (zero displacement)

points in the wave that remain at rest (amplitude = 0)

Question 23

antinodes

Answer 23

points of maximum oscillation/displacement

Question 24

first harmonic has the ——- wavelength

second harmonic has a —– wavelength, etc.

Answer 24

first harmonic has the longest wavelength

second harmonic has a shorter wavelength, etc.

Question 25

how does the frequency between the first harmonic, second harmonic, third, etc.

Answer 25

frequency = cycles per second
the second harmonic will have twice the frequency as the first
the third harmonic will have 3x the frequency as the first

Question 26

with each harmonic, the frequency ——– (increases/decreases)

Answer 26

increases