Waves review - Sp4

Question 1

what do waves transfer?

Answer 1

information and energy, NOT matter

Question 2

what is the amplitude of the wave?

Answer 2

the displacement from the rest position to the crest / trough

Question 3

What is the wave length?

Answer 3

the length of a full cycle of a wave (crest to crest or etc)

Question 4

what is frequency of a wave?

Answer 4

the amount of complete cycles of a wave passing a certain point per second (measured in Hz)

Question 5

what is the period of a wave?

Answer 5

how many seconds it takes for a wave to do a full cycle

Question 6

how many seconds are in 1 Hz?

Answer 6

1

Question 7

Name 3 characteristics of transverse waves?

Answer 7

perpendicular vibrations
90 degrees to the way the wave is travelling
vibrations go up and down like waves

Question 8

give 3 examples of transverse waves?

Answer 8

all electromagnetic waves
s-waves
waves in water/ ripples

Question 9

name 3 characteristics of longitudinal waves?

Answer 9

vibrations are parallel to direction of travel
composed of rarefactions and compressions
act like a spring

Question 10

give 2 examples of longitudinal waves

Answer 10

sound waves and P waves

Question 11

what is the equation for wave speed?

Answer 11

frequency x wavelength

Question 12

what is the alternative equation for wave speed (not freq.)

Answer 12

distance / time

Question 13

what is used to measure speed of sound?

Answer 13

oscilloscope

Question 14

what experiment can be made using oscilloscope to measure speed of sound?

Answer 14

set up 2 microphones attached to an oscilloscope displaying the separate detected waves

put both microphones close to a speaker attached to a signal generator then move one further away till both waves are lined up on display and are one wave length apart

measure distance between microphones for wavelength

frequency can be found from what the signal generator is set to

use equation to find speed

Question 15

How can the speed of water be measured using a strobe light?

Answer 15

attach a signal generator to a dipper in the ripple tank to create water wave frequency

turn off lights ad turn on strobe, a wave pattern will be made with shadows of wave crests on screen below tank

make sure the frequency of the wave and strobe are equal by altering strobe freq to match waves

the distance between shadow lines is 1 wave length - measure distance between 10 wave lengths and find an average

use equation for speed

Question 16

how can peak frequency be used to find the sound of waves in solids

Answer 16

• this can be found by measuring frequency of sound waves produced when hitting the object.
• this causes waves to be produced along the object. the object is vibrated by the waves and produces sound waves in air around the object
• these waves have the same frequencies as waves in the rod
• repeat the experiment then find an average and use equation where wave length is twice the size of the object