P5.1.1-2

Question 1

What are the 2 types of waves?

Answer 1

Transverse

Longitudinal

Question 2

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 2

A wave which has oscillations at right angles to the direction of energy transfer.

Question 3

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 3

A wave whose oscillations are parallel (same direction) to the energy transfer.

Question 4

Define frequency and time period.

Answer 4

Frequency - number of waves (oscillations) per second (in Hz)

Time period - the time taken for a wave to pass a given point

Question 5

Equation for wave velocity.

Answer 5

wave speed (m/s) = frequency (Hz) x wavelength (m)

Question 6

How do you measure the wavelength of water waves in a ripple tank?

Answer 6

Use a strobe light (freezes the waves if at same frequency), then use a ruler to measure the wavelength from a point to a point.

Question 7

How do you measure the frequency of water waves in a ripple tank?

Answer 7

Place a marker, e.g. a cork, on the tank and measure the number of waves passing it per second.

Question 8

How do you measure the velocity of a clap?

Answer 8

Stand in an echoey room, measure the distance from you to the wall, clap, measure the time taken for you to hear it.
Use s=d/t to calculate velocity.