P12.2 The properties of waves

Question 1

What is the wavelength?

Answer 1

The distance from a point on the wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave

Question 2

What is the amplitude?

Answer 2

It is the maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its equilibrium

Question 3

What does a higher amplitude mean?

Answer 3

The bigger the amplitude - the more energy the waves can carry

Question 4

What is the frequency?

Answer 4

The number of waves passing a fixed point every second

Question 5

How do you calculate the time period?

Answer 5

1/frequency

Question 6

What is the speed of the wave?

Answer 6

Is the distance travelled by each wave every second through a medium

Question 7

How do you calculate wave speed?

Answer 7

Wave speed = frequency x wavelength

M/s = Hz x m

Question 8

How can you measure wavelength in a longitudinal wave?

Answer 8

By measuring from one compression to the next compression

Or from one rarefaction to the next rarefaction

Question 9

What is the wavespeed?

Answer 9

Is the speed at which the wave moves through the medium