Wave Motion

Question 1

Define waves

Answer 1

Vibrations that transfer energy from place to place without matter (solid, liquid, or gas) being transfered

Question 2

What waves need mediums to travel through

Answer 2

Sound and seismic waves

Question 3

What waves do not need mediums to travel through

Answer 3

Visible light rays, microwaves, and other electromagnetic waves

Question 4

What are the two types of waves

Answer 4

Transverse and Longitudinal

Question 5

Define transverse waves

Answer 5

Where the oscillations are right angles to the direction of travel and energy transfer

Question 6

Example of transverse waves

Answer 6

Electromagnetic waves

Question 7

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves

Answer 7

3x10^8 (speed o light through a vacuum)

Question 8

Define Longitudinal waves

Answer 8

The oscillations are the same direction as the direction of travel and energy transfer
They show areas of compression and rarefaction

Question 9

Example of longitudinal waves

Answer 9

Sound waves

Question 10

Define Amplitude

Answer 10

The maximum height of the wave from its undisturbed central position (from the normal line to the crest) - see image

Question 11

Define Period

Answer 11

The time taken by a wave to complete one cycle (measured from crest to crest - same as wavelength excepts measures time not distance)

Question 12

Define wavelength

Answer 12

The distance between a point on the wave and the same point on the next wave (crest to crest or trough to trough)

Question 13

Define frequency

Answer 13

Number of waves that pass a certain point each second

Question 14

What is wavelength measured in

Answer 14

Metres

Question 15

What is frequency measured in

Answer 15

Hz (Hertz)

Question 16

What is amplitude measured in

Answer 16

Metres

Question 17

Mechanical Waves

Answer 17

Waves that pass energy through particles through vibrations, particle movement and compression.

Question 18

State the equation to find wave length

Answer 18

Wavelength = Velocity (speed) divided by frequency

Question 19

State the equation for frequency

Answer 19

Frequency = Velocity (speed) divided by wavelength

Question 20

State the equation for velocity (speed)

Answer 20

Velocity (speed) = frequency x wavelength

Question 21

What are sound waves

Answer 21

A longitudinal wave travelling through material or matter that can be heard.

Question 22

How does sound move

Answer 22

By molecules moving from where the sound began parallel to the direction of motion

Question 23

Are sound waves longitudinal or transverse waves

Answer 23

Longitudinal as the vibrations push air molecules back and forth creating longitudinal waves

Question 24

Define compression

Answer 24

When a sound wave from an object pushes into the air causes the molecules to push together (compress together)

Question 25

Define rarefaction

Answer 25

When the sound waves pull back from its vibration, the air molecules are furthest apart with low pressure

Question 26

Define pitch

Answer 26

The frequency of a wave creates a sounds pitch (proportional relationship between pitch and frequency)

Question 27

What effect does a high frequency have on pitch?

Answer 27

Creates a high pitch

Question 28

What effect does a low frequency have on pitch?

Answer 28

Creates a low pitch

Question 29

Define absorption in terms of sound waves

Answer 29

Where sound is absorbed off soft surfaces that don’t reflect

Question 30

What surfaces does sound absorb into

Answer 30

Soft surfaces that don’t reflect

Question 31

Define echo

Answer 31

Where sound bounces off hard surfaces

Question 32

What surfaces does sound echo off

Answer 32

Hard surfaces