P5.1 Wave Behaviour

Question 1

What is a wave?

Answer 1

A regular disturbance that transfers energy in the direction the wave is travelling without transferring matter.

Question 2

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 2

A wave which the oscillations are perpendicular to 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

Examples of transverse waves

Answer 4

1. Electromagnetic waves

2. seismic s-waves

Question 5

examples of transverse waves:

Answer 5

1. Sound waves

2. Seismic p-waves

Question 6

What are the 2 parts of a longitudinal wave called?

Answer 6

Compressions and rarefractions

Question 7

what is a waves amplitude

Answer 7

Max displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position.

Question 8

what is wavelength?

Answer 8

Distance from a point on a wave to the shame position on the adjacent wave
peak - peak or trough - trough

Question 9

what is the frequency of a wave?

Answer 9

number of waves that pass a given point each second

Question 10

What is the unit for frequency?

Answer 10

Hz

Question 11

what is meant by a frequency of 200 Hz

Answer 11

200 waves pass a given point each second

Question 12

what is wave speed?

Answer 12

the speed at which energy is transferred through a medium

Question 13

What does a wave transfer?

Answer 13

Energy

Question 14

What is the equation for wave speed?

Answer 14

Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz), Wavelength (m)

Question 15

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

Answer 15

reflection

Question 16

What is a refraction?

Answer 16

Change in speed of a wave as it reaches a boundary between 2 media, resulting in a change of direction

Question 17

How do sound waves travel in a solid?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How does the human ear work?

Answer 18

1. The outer ear collects the sound which travels into the ear.
2. The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate at the same frequency.
3. This is amplified by three ossicles (small bones).
4. This causes the hair in the cochlea to vibrate.
5. The cochlea converts the vibrations into electrical signals.
6. The signals are passed to brain through the auditory nerve.
7. The brain converts the electrical signals into sound.

Question 19

What are ultrasound waves?

Answer 19

Waves which have a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing (20kHz)