Wave basics

Question 1

What do waves transfer?

Answer 1

Energy and information (particles stay in the same place.

Question 2

Amplitude

Answer 2

Amplitude- the distance from the middle of the wave to the top (crest) or bottom (trough). Measured in metres (m)

Question 3

Wavelength

Answer 3

Distance from one point on a wave to the same point on the next wave. Measured in metres (m)

Question 4

Period

How to find period

Answer 4

The length of time it takes one wave to pass a certain point. Measured in seconds (s).
Period= 1 divided by frequency.

Question 5

Frequency

Answer 5

Number of waves passing a point each second; measured in hertz (HZ)

Question 6

Velocity

Answer 6

The speed of a wave in the direction it’s travelling. Measured in metres per second (m/s)

Question 7

What’s a transverse wave

Answer 7

The vibrations go up and down

The vibrations are perpendicular (right angle) to the direction the wave travels.

Question 8

Give examples of a transverse wave

Answer 8

All Electromagnetic waves (light)
S-waves
Ripples and waves on water

Question 9

What’s a longitudinal wave

Answer 9

The vibrations are parallel to the direction the wave travels.
The particles compress (squash up, high pressure, lots of particles) and refract (stretch out, low pressure, fewer particles)
Pushing the end of a spring

Question 10

Give an example of a longitudinal wave

Answer 10

P-waves (type of seismic wave)

Sound waves

Question 11

Give 2 equations to find wave speed

Answer 11

Wave speed = frequency times wavelength

Wave speed = distance divided by time