Characteristics of Waves: Physics

Question 1

two types of mechanical waves

Answer 1

longitudinal and transverse

Question 2

medium

Answer 2

substance in which a wave can travle, such as gas, liquids and solids

Question 3

amplitude

Answer 3

maximum distance that the particles of the medium move from rest position

Question 4

Thre properties of waves

Answer 4

amplitude, wavelength, and frequency

Question 5

amplitude of transverse waves

Answer 5

distance from resting line to tip of crest or trough

Question 6

wavelength

Answer 6

distance from crest to crest or trough to trough. Or, for a longitudinal wave, the distance between compressions

Question 7

frequency

Answer 7

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

Question 8

How is frequency measured?

Answer 8

hertz (HZ)

Question 9

speed =

Answer 9

speed = wavelength x frequency

Question 10

frequency =

Answer 10

frequency = speed/wavelength

Question 11

wavelength =

Answer 11

wavelength = speed/frequency

Question 12

reflection

Answer 12

when a wave hits a surface it cannot pass through, it bounces back

Question 13

law of reflection =

Answer 13

law of reflection = the angle of the incidence = angle of reflection

Question 14

refraction

Answer 14

when a wave enters a new medium at an angle, one side of the wave changes speed before the other side, causing the wave to bend.

Question 15

diffraction

Answer 15

when a wave moves around a barrier or through a barrier, it bends and spreads out.

Question 16

Two types of interference

Answer 16

constructive and destructive

Question 17

destructive interference

Answer 17

when waves hit each other, they subtract their energies and cancel each other out

Question 18

constructive interference

Answer 18

when waves bump into each other and their energies are added together

Question 19

standing wave

Answer 19

when two waves have just the right right frequency hit each other and appear to stand still

Question 20

node

Answer 20

points of zero amplitude

Question 21

antinode

Answer 21

points of maximum energy

Question 22

resonance

Answer 22

when the amplitude can be increased easily because the wave matches the natural frequency of the medium

Question 23

seismic wave

Answer 23

waves produced by an earthquake

Question 24

P waves

Answer 24

primary waves, or longitudinal seismic wave

Question 25

S wave

Answer 25

secondary wave, transverse wave in the earth

Question 26

surface wave

Answer 26

waves on the surface of a medium that combine longitudinal and transverse waves

Question 27

tsunami

Answer 27

ocean wave caused by an earthquake