Waves

Question 1

What is a wave

Answer 1

A wave is a means of transferring energy from one place to another without a transfer of matter between the two points

Question 2

What are mechanical waves

Answer 2

Mechanical waves are vibrations that travel through a medium

Question 3

Give an example of a longitudinal wave

Answer 3

Sound wave

Question 4

What is the difference between a transverse and a longitudinal wave

Answer 4

In a transverse wave, the direction of energy transfer is perpendicular to the oscillation (wobbles). In a longitudinal wave,the direction of energy transfer is the same as the oscillation (straight)

Question 5

What is meant by the frequency of a wave

Answer 5

The number of complete oscillations or waves each second

Question 6

What are the two types of waves

Answer 6

Transverse , longitudinal

Question 7

What are the crests in a wave

Answer 7

The top part of the wave

Question 8

What is the amplitufe of a wave

Answer 8

Maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its rest position

Question 9

What is the wavelength of a wave

Answer 9

Distance between the same point on two seperate waves. May be distance between crest on one wave and crest on the other.

Question 10

What is frequency in a wave repressntation

Answer 10

Number of complete waves passing a certain point per second. Measured in (Hz).

Question 11

What is the period of a wave

Answer 11

Amount of time it takes for a full cycle of the wave to be completed
Period=1/frequency

Question 12

How do you find speed of sound in air

Answer 12

Set up a signal generator thats is connectedbto a speaker. Swt the frequency to 1kHz and have two speakers at same distance from speaker connected to an oscilstor. Play sound and slowly move one microphone away from speaker and keep going until the two waves on the oscilstor are alligned up. Now the microphones will be exactly one wavelength apart so measure distsance between two microphones.

Question 13

What is a ray

Answer 13

Straight line showing the path of a wave travels along

Question 14

What can a wave do when they meet the boundsry between two different materials

Answer 14

Reflected, absorbed, transmitted

Question 15

What are electromagnetic waves

Answer 15

Group of transverse waves that all travel at the same speed in a vacum

Question 16

What are the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum from left to right

Answer 16

Radio waves, micro-waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet,x-rays,gamma rays

Question 17

What are the three things wa wave can do at a boundary

Answer 17

The waves can be absorbed
The waves can be reflect
The waves can transmit through the material

Question 18

If a wave slows down at a boundary what way does it bend

Answer 18

Towards the normal

Question 19

If a wave speeds up at a boundary what direction does it bend

Answer 19

Away from the normal

Question 20

What is a normal in waves

Answer 20

A straight line that is 90° to the boundary

Question 21

What is refaction

Answer 21

When a wave reaches the boundary of two material and changes direction

Question 22

What is the angle of incidence

Answer 22

The angle between the incoming wave and the normal

Question 23

What is the angle of reflection

Answer 23

The engle between rhe reflected wave and normal wave

Question 24

What is specular reflection

Answer 24

What happens when parallel waves aare reflected in a single direction

Question 25

What is diffuse reflection

Answer 25

When parrallel waves are reflected by a rough surface and reflected rays are scattered in different directions