Chapter 15

Question 1

mechanical wave

Answer 1

A wave that requires a medium through which to travel

Question 2

medium

Answer 2

The material through which a wave travels

Question 3

crest

Answer 3

The highest part of a transverse wave

Question 4

compression

Answer 4

The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together

Question 5

longitudinal wave

Answer 5

A wave that moves a medium in a direction parallel to the direction in which the wave travels

Question 6

amplitude

Answer 6

The maximum distance the particles of a medium move away from their rest positions as a wave passes through the medium

Question 7

frequency

Answer 7

The number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time

Question 8

hertz (Hz)

Answer 8

Unit of measurement for frequency

Question 9

law of reflection

Answer 9

The rule that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence

Question 10

constructive interference

Answer 10

The interference that occurs when waves combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude

Question 11

diffraction

Answer 11

The bending of waves as they move around a barrier or pass through an opening

Question 12

interference

Answer 12

The interaction between waves that meet

Question 13

destructive interference

Answer 13

The interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with smaller amplitude

Question 14

antinode

Answer 14

A point of maximum amplitude on a standing wave.

Question 15

node

Answer 15

A point of zero amplitude on a standing wave

Question 16

P wave

Answer 16

A longitudinal seismic wave

Question 17

echo

Answer 17

A reflected sound wave

Question 18

elasticity

Answer 18

The ability of a material to bounce back after being disturbed

Question 19

loudness

Answer 19

Perception of the energy of a sound

Question 20

intensity

Answer 20

The amount of energy per second carried through a unit area by a wave

Question 21

decibel (dB)

Answer 21

A unit used to compare the loudness of different sounds

Question 22

pitch

Answer 22

Perception of the frequency of a sound

Question 23

infrasound

Answer 23

Sound waves with frequencies below 20 Hz

Question 24

larynx

Answer 24

Two folds of tissue that make up the human voice box

Question 25

Doppler effect

Answer 25

The change in frequency of a wave as its source moves in relation to an observer

Question 26

fundamental tone

Answer 26

The lowest natural frequency of an object

Question 27

music

Answer 27

A set of tones and overtones combined in ways that are pleasing

Question 28

overtone

Answer 28

A natural frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental tone’s frequency

Question 29

acoustics

Answer 29

The study of how sounds interact with each other and the environment.

Question 30

ear canal

Answer 30

A narrow region leading from the outside of the human ear to the eardrum

Question 31

eardrum

Answer 31

A small, tightly stretched, drumlike membrane in the ear

Question 32

cochlea

Answer 32

A fluid-filled cavity in the inner ear that is shaped like a snail shell

Question 33

echolocation

Answer 33

The use of reflected sound waves to determine distances or to locate objects