Waves

Question 1

What does a wave carry?

Answer 1

A wave carries energy.

Question 2

What is the movement of a wave all the way through a medium without any reflection, refraction, or diffraction taking place?

Answer 2

Transmission.

Question 3

What is reflection?

Answer 3

Reflection is when the wave changes directions as it bounces off of a boundary.

Question 4

___________ involves a change in direction of waves as they pass through an opening or around a barrier.

Answer 4

Diffraction.

Question 5

What is refraction?

Answer 5

Refraction is the change in the speed and direction of waves that occurs when waves travel from one medium to another.

Question 6

A _______ is one complete oscillation of a wave.

Answer 6

Cycle.

Question 7

What is the time it takes for one cycle called?

Answer 7

The period is the time it takes for one cycle to occur.

Question 8

What is frequency?

Answer 8

Frequency is the number of cycles that pass through a point in one second.

Question 9

In transverse waves the particles of the medium travel in what direction compared to the direction of the wave?

Answer 9

The particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Question 10

In __________ waves the particles of the medium travel parallel to the direction of the wave.

Answer 10

Longitudinal.

Question 11

What is the maximum height of a crest called?

Answer 11

It is called the amplitude.

Question 12

What is a wavelength?

Answer 12

A wavelength is the horizontal distance of one cycle of a wave.

Question 13

Characteristics of the partially transmitted pulse from less dense medium to more dense medium:

Answer 13

• It will be upright
• It will have a slower speed, shorter wavelength, and smaller amplitude than the incident pulse
• Frequency will stay the same

Question 14

Characteristics of the partially reflected pulse from a less dense medium to a more dense medium:

Answer 14

• It will be inverted
• Has the same speed and wavelength as the incident pulse
• Will have a smaller amplitude than the incident pulse
• Frequency stays the same

Question 15

What is a mechanical wave?

Answer 15

A mechanical wave is a wave that transports kinetic energy through a physical medium.

Question 16

What is the point that connects two different media?

Answer 16

The boundary connects two media.

Question 17

What is the quietest part of a sound wave?

Answer 17

The quietest part is the node, and the loudest is at the antinode.

Question 18

How is a sound wave like a transverse wave?

Answer 18

The distance/time graph of one particle in a longitudinal wave creates a transverse wave. Also a pressure graph of a sound wave creates a transverse wave.

Question 19

What physical part of a wave would have to change in order to increase the pitch is the sound?
A) amplitude
B) frequency
C) intensity

Answer 19

B) frequency

Question 20

In order to decrease the intensity of a sound what physical characteristic would have to change?

Answer 20

The amplitude would have to change.

Question 21

What kind of sound is above the human audible range?

Answer 21

Ultrasonic sound is above human audible range, whereas infrasonic sound is below it.

Question 22

A closed tube will always have a(n) ______ at the closed end.
A) node
B) antinode

Answer 22

A) node

Question 23

An open end air column always has antinodes at both ends.

True of False?

Answer 23

True.

Question 24

After being reflected from a fixed end will the pulse be…
A) inverted
B) upright

Answer 24

A) inverted

A reflection from a free end will remain upright.

Question 25

Characteristics of the partially reflected pulse from a more dense to less dense medium:

Answer 25

• upright
• has the same speed and and wavelength, but smaller amplitude than the incident pulse
• frequency stays the same

Question 26

From a more dense to less dense medium: Which partial pulse is upright, has a faster speed, longer wavelength, and smaller amplitude than the incident pulse?

Answer 26

The partially transmitted pulse.

Question 27

What is constructive interference?

Answer 27

Also known as “in phase,” it is when two similar pulses superimposed, resulting in a larger amplitude.

Question 28

What is it called when two opposite pulses superimpose, resulting in a smaller amplitude or no pulse?

Answer 28

It is called destructive interference or “out of phase.”

Question 29

What is the resultant of two wave trains of the same wavelength, frequency, and amplitude, travelling in opposite directions through the same medium?

Answer 29

Standing waves.

Question 30

Nodes are where destructive interference occurs, how long is it from node to node?

Answer 30

1/2 wavelength

Question 31

Antinodes, also known as loops, are where _________ interference occurs.

Answer 31

Constructive interference.

Question 32

The fundamental frequency is a single loop produced by the lowest _______ frequency. Also called the first harmonic.

Answer 32

Natural.

Question 33

The 6th overtone is the ____ harmonic.
A) 5th
B) 6th
C) 7th

Answer 33

C) 7th

Question 34

What is pure tone?

Answer 34

Pure tone is a sound with a single frequency.

Question 35

What are beats?

Answer 35

Beats are periodic variations in loudness caused be the interference of sound waves with slightly different frequencies.

Question 36

What happens when incident and reflected sound waves interfere and built into a standing wave?

Answer 36

Resonance occurs.

Question 37

What is the first resonant length?

Answer 37

It is the shortest closed tube in which resonance can occur.

Question 38

What is the Doppler effect?

Answer 38

The Doppler effect is the perceived change of frequency caused by motion between the source of sound and the observer.

Question 39

What is a medium?

Answer 39

A medium is the substance or particles that carry a wave.