Displacement-Time Graphs for Oscillating Particles

Question 1

what is the name of a usual displacement-time graph for a wave and why

Answer 1

• sinusoidal

- because the shape of the graph is the same as a sin graph

Question 2

what is the graph showing the variation of displacement with the time of the particles within a wave called

Answer 2

a waveform

Question 3

what does it mean for two points on a wave to be out of phase

Answer 3

the wave is traveling through the midpoint of the starting position but in the opposite direction

Question 4

what are two oscillations that are half cycle out of step said to be in

Answer 4

anti-phase

Question 5

what is the phase of an oscillation even referring to

Answer 5

• the position within a cycle that the particle occupies

- relative to the onset of the cycle

Question 6

if for a sinusoidal wave, one cycle represents 360 degrees, how many radians would that equate to

Answer 6

2 pi radians

Question 7

what would the phase difference in radians between two oscillations that are in antiphase be

Answer 7

pi (180 degrees)

Question 8

what would the wavelength of a wave be

Answer 8

the distance between two peaks, troths or the equilibrium

Question 9

what is another way of wording the definition of a wavelength

Answer 9

the distance between two adjacent positions that are in phase

Question 10

what would the wavelength of a longitudinal wave be

Answer 10

the total displacement of the particles left and right