P12. Wave Properties

Question 1

What are the two types of waves?

Answer 1

1. Transverse
2. Longitudinal

Question 2

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 2

A wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to thw direction of energy transfer

Question 3

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 3

A wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

Question 4

Give two examples of transverse waves

Answer 4

1. Electromagnetic waves
2. Seismic s-waves

Question 5

Give two examples of longitudinal waves

Answer 5

1. Sound waves
2. Seismic p-waves

Question 6

What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

Answer 6

Compressions and rarefactions

Question 7

What is a wave’s amplitude?

Answer 7

The maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position

Question 8

What is wavelength?

Answer 8

The distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave
Most commonly peak to peak trough to trough

Question 9

What is the frequency of a wave?

Answer 9

The number of waves that pass a given point each second

Question 10

What is the unit used for frequency?

Answer 10

Hertz, Hz

Question 11

What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz

Answer 11

200 waves pass a given point each second

Question 12

What is wave speed?

Answer 12

The speed at which the wave moves or at which energy is transferred through a medium

Question 13

What does a wave transfer?

Answer 13

Energy

Question 14

State the equation used to calculate wave speed.

Answer 14

Wave speed = Frequency × Wavelength

Question 15

What word is used to describe when a wave bounces off a surface?

Answer 15

Reflection

Question 16

How do sound waves travel through a solid?

Answer 16

The particles in the solid vibrate and transfer kinetic energy through the material

Question 17

What is the frequency range of human hearing?

Answer 17

20 Hz = 20 kHz

Question 18

What are ultrasound waves?

Answer 18

Waves which have a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing

Question 19

Give an example use for ultrasound waves?

Answer 19

Medical or industrial imaging

Question 20

What natural event causes seismic waves to be produced? What types are produced

Answer 20

Earthquakes
They produce both P-waves and S waves

Question 21

State a difference between the mediums that P- Waves and S- waves can travel through?

Answer 21

P waves travels through both solids and liquids
S waves only travel through solids

Question 22

What technique is used to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth?

Answer 22

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