Properties Of Waves

Question 1

What are waves

Answer 1

One of the ways energy can be transferred between stores

Question 2

How can waves be described?

Answer 2

Oscillations, vibrations around a rest position

Question 3

What do sound waves to do air particles?

Answer 3

Rotate back and forth

Question 4

What do ripples do to water particles?

Answer 4

Vibrate up and down

Question 5

How do longitudinal waves move?

Answer 5

Parallel to direction of wave travel

Question 6

How do transverse waves move?

Answer 6

At a right angle to direction wave travel

Question 7

What are mechanical waves and what do they require?

Answer 7

They cause oscillations of particles in solids, liquids and gases and must have a medium to travel through

Question 8

What are electromagnetic waves

Answer 8

Cause oscillations in electrical and magnetic fields

Question 9

What do waves NEVER transfer

Answer 9

Matter

Question 10

How do we hear sound

Answer 10

-Air is made of tiny particles that vibrate and collide when sound is made
-The vibrations travel and pass to a persons ear where they vibrate the eardrum

Question 11

How do we calculate speed of sound?

Answer 11

s=d/t

Question 12

What is the rest position?

Answer 12

Undisturbed position of particles

Question 13

What is the peak?

Answer 13

Highest point of a wave

Question 14

What is the trough

Answer 14

Lowest point of a wave

Question 15

What is time period

Answer 15

Time taken for a full cycle of a wave

Question 16

What is wavelength

Answer 16

Distance covered by a full cycle of a wave

Question 17

What is amplitude

Answer 17

Maximum displacement from the rest position to a peak or trough

Question 18

Explain the practical to measure waves in a ripple tank

Answer 18

Fill a tank with 5cm of water
Make wooden rod touch surface of water
Switch on lamp and motor and adjust till you can see low frequency waves
Measure number of waves and divide by length of waves to get wavelength
Count how many waves pass in 10 seconds then divide by 10 to get frequency
Calculate speed of waves with = frequency x wavelength