P5.1.1 And P5.1.2

Question 1

What is a wave?

Answer 1

A wave is an oscillation that transfers energy

Question 2

What are the two types of waves?

Answer 2

Mechanical waves - need a medium to travel.
E.g. sound and water

Electromagnetic waves - does not need a medium to travel

Question 3

Waves can be transverse or longitudinal.

Explain these terms.

Answer 3

Transverse waves, the vibration are at right angles to the direction the wave travels.

Longitudinal waves, vibrations are in the same direction as the wave travels

Question 4

What is an amplitude?

Answer 4

Distance from the middle to the top or bottom of the wave

Symbol - A

Question 5

What is a wavelength?

Answer 5

Distance from one point on the way to the same point on the next waves.

Symbol - lambda
Unit - metres

Question 6

What is frequency?

Answer 6

Number of waves or oscillations per second
Symbol - F
Unit - Hz

Question 7

What is time period?

Answer 7

Time for one wave to pass a given point
Symbol - T
Unit - seconds

Question 8

What does a time trace graph show?

Answer 8

How displacement varies with time at a particular position.

1/frequency
If graph is not given.

Question 9

What is a snapshot of a wave?

Answer 9

Shows how displacement varies with distance at a particular time.

Question 10

What is the formula for wave velocity?

Answer 10

Wave velocity (m/s) = frequency (Hz) * wavelength (m)

Question 11

How do you measure the velocity of sound?

Answer 11

Time how long it takes to hear an echo of a clap when you are at a distance from a wall

Question 12

How do you measure the velocity of ripples?

Answer 12

You can find wave length using a strobe and a ruler, and the frequency by finding the number of rotations of the motor per second,
Use the equation to calculate velocity.