Waves in Air, Fluids, and Solids - Paper 2

Question 1

Compare and contrast transverse and longitudinal waves.

Question 2

Define amplitude

Answer 2

The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed position.

Question 3

Define wavelength

Answer 3

The wavelength of a wave is the distance from a point on one wave to the equivalent point on the adjacent wave.

Question 4

Define frequency

of a wave

Answer 4

The frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a fixed point each second.

Question 5

In which state of matter do sound waves tend to travel the fastest?

Answer 5

Solids

Question 6

List the processes that all waves can undergo at the boundary at between 2 objects.

Answer 6

• Reflection
• Absorption
• Transmission

Question 7

Why is the frequency range of human hearing limited?

Answer 7

Within the ear, sound waves cause the ear drum and other parts to vibrate which causes the sensation of sound.
The conversion of sound waves to vibrations of solids in the ear works over a limited frequency range.

Question 8

What is the normal range of human hearing?

Answer 8

20Hz - 20kHz

Question 9

Define ultrasound wave

Answer 9

Ultrasound waves are sound waves with a higher frequency than the upper limit for human hearing.

Question 10

Define seismic wave

Answer 10

A seismic wave is a wave produced by an earthquake.

Question 11

Compare the 2 types of seismic waves.

Answer 11

P-waves are longitudinal, seismic waves that travel at different speeds through solids and liquids.
S-waves are transverse, seismic waves that cannot travel through a liquid.

Question 12

What do seismic waves provide evidence for?

Answer 12

The structure and size of the Earth’s core.

Question 13

Define echo sounding

Answer 13

Echo sounding is the use of high frequency waves to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth.