Topic 1 - Transverse and Longitudinal

Question 1

Transverse waves - how they move

Answer 1

each particle vibrates up and down. at a right angle to the waves direction

Question 2

Longitudinal waves - how they move

Answer 2

each particle vibrate back and fourth. Vibrations are parallel to the wave direction.

Question 3

Transverse waves - features & examples

Answer 3

peak/crest
trough
amplitude
wavelength

eg) light waves

Question 4

Longitudinal waves - features

Answer 4

compression
rarefaction
wavelength

e.g.) sound waves

Question 5

what is wavelength

Answer 5

distance between 2 matching points on neighbouring waves

Question 6

what is amplitude

Answer 6

max distance a point moves from equilibrium

the lager the amplitude, the greater the energy of the wave

Question 7

difference between visible light and sound waves

Answer 7

visible light electromagnetic
sound is vibrations

light waves can travel in a vacuum but sound waves need particles

sound has a lower frequency

light carry more energy

light can be polarised sound waves don’t