Waves

Question 1

What are waves?

Answer 1

One of the ways energy can be transferred between stores. They can be described as oscillations (vibrations), about a rest position. Eg;

Sound waves cause air particles to vibrate back and forth.

Ripples cause water particles to vibrate up and down.

Question 2

What are longitudinal waves?

Answer 2

The vibrations are parallel to the direction of the wave travel.

For Example: Sound waves, ultrasound waves.

They show areas of rarefaction and compression.

Rarefaction - Due to less pressure, particles are more spread out than normal.

Compression - Due to more pressure, particles are more closer together.

Question 3

What are transverse waves?

Answer 3

The vibrations are perpendicular (at a right angle) to the direction of wave travel.

For example: Mexican Wave, ripples on the surface of water.

Question 4

Wave Period

Answer 4

time period = 1/frequency.

Question 5

Wave Speed

Answer 5

wave speed = frequency x wavelength

OR

distance/time

Question 6

Sound Waves

Answer 6

Longitudinal Waves

The vibrations can travel through gas, liquid and solids.

Speed of sound depends on the median through which it is travelling. In air, the speed is 330m/s.

Sound cannot travel through a vacuum as there are no particles to carry the vibrations.

Question 7

Rarefraction

Answer 7

The process by which a wave changes speed and sometimes direction upon entering a denser or less dense median.