P14 Mechanical waves

Question 1

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 1

Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

Question 2

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 2

Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

Question 3

Amplitude

Answer 3

Maximum displacement of a point on a wage from its undisturbed position

Question 4

Unit for amplitude

Answer 4

meteres

Question 5

Frequency

Answer 5

Number of waves passing a fixed point per second

Question 6

Unit for frequency

Answer 6

Hertz

Question 7

Period

Answer 7

Time taken for one complete wave to pass a fixed point

Question 8

Unit for a peroid

Answer 8

Seconds

Question 9

Wavelength

Answer 9

Distance from one point on a wave to the equivalent point on the next wave

Question 10

Unit for wavelength

Answer 10

Meteres

Question 11

Wave speed

Answer 11

Distance travelled by each wave per second, and the speed at which energy is transferred by the wave

Question 12

Unit for wavespeed

Answer 12

meters per second

Question 13

Example of a transverse wave

Answer 13

Electromagnetic waves

Question 14

Example of a longitudinal wave

Answer 14

Sound waves

Question 15

Wave speed equation

Answer 15

Wave speed(m/s) = frequency(Hz) X wavelength(M)

Question 16

How are frequency and period related in equation?

Answer 16

Period = 1 / Frequency

Question 17

What is a compression?

Answer 17

Area in a longitudinal wave where the particles are squashed close together

Question 18

What is rarefaction?

Answer 18

Area in a longitudinal wave where particles are pulled apart

Question 19

What property of a wave stays the same when it travels from one medium to another?

Answer 19

Frequency

Question 20

What rule do waves follow when they reflect off a surface/

Answer 20

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection

Question 21

What happens when waves are transmitted at a boundary between two substances?

Answer 21

They carry on moving at a different speed

Question 22

What happens when waves are absorbed by a substance?

Answer 22

Energy of the wave is transferred to energy stores of the substance

Question 23

Absorption (waves)

Answer 23

The energy of the waves in transferred to energy stores of the substance they travel in to

e.g when food is heated in a microwave

Question 24

Reflection

Answer 24

The waves bounce back

Question 25

Refraction

Answer 25

The waves change speed and direction as they cross the boundary

Question 26

Transmission

Answer 26

The waves carry on moving once they have crossed the boundary, but may be refracted