Waves

Question 1

What are the two types of waves?

Answer 1

•Longitudinal
•Transverse

Question 2

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 2

A wave where the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

Question 3

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 3

A wave where the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

Question 4

Give two examples of transverse waves

Answer 4

•Electromagnetic
•Seismic S-waves
•Ripples of the surface of water

Question 5

Give two examples of longitudinal waves.

Answer 5

•Sound waves
•Seismic P-waves

Question 6

What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

Answer 6

•Compression
•Rarefaction

Question 7

What is a waves amplitude?

Answer 7

The maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position

Question 8

What is wavelength?

Answer 8

•The distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave
•Most commonly Peak to peak or trough to trough

Question 9

What is the frequency of a wave?

Answer 9

The number of waves that pass a given point each second

Question 10

What is the unit for frequency?

Answer 10

Hertz, Hz

Question 11

What is meant if the frequency is 200Hz?

Answer 11

200 waves pass a given point each second

Question 12

What is wave speed?

Answer 12

•The speed at which the wave moves
OR
•The speed at which energy is transferred through a medium

Question 13

What does a wave transfer?

Answer 13

Energy

Question 14

State the equation used to calculate wave speed. (GIVE UNITS)

Answer 14

Wave speed (m/s) = Frequency (Hz) x Wavelength (m)

Question 15

What word is used to describe when a wave bounces off a surface?

Answer 15

Reflection

Question 16

How do sound waves travel through a solid? (HIGHER ONLY)

Answer 16

The particles in the solid vibrate and transfer kinetic energy through the material

Question 17

What is the frequency range of human hearing?

Answer 17

20Hz — 20kHz
(1kHz= 1000Hz)

Question 18

What are ultrasound waves?

Answer 18

Waves which have a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing

Question 19

Give an example for the usage of ultrasound waves.

Answer 19

Medical or Industrial imaging

Question 20

What natural even causes seismic waves to be produced? What type are produced? (HIGHER ONLY)

Answer 20

•Earthquakes
•They produce both P-waves and S-waves

Question 21

State the difference between the mediums that P-waves and S-waves can travel through. (HIGHER ONLY)

Answer 21

•P-waves travel through both solids and liquids
•S-waves only travel through solids (NOT liquids)

Question 22

What technique can be used to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth? (HIGHER ONLY)

Answer 22

•Echo Sounding
•High frequency sound waves are emitter, reflected and detected
•Time difference between emission and detection, alongside the wave speed, are used to calculate distances.