waves-year 9 core questions Flashcards
What is a wave?
A disturbance that travels from one place to another, transferring energy but not matter
What are the two types of wave?
Longitudinal and transverse
What is a longitudinal wave?
A wave in which the vibrations are parallel to the direction of motion of the wave
What is a transverse wave?
A wave in which the vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave
What is a mechanical wave?
Waves that travel through a medium (substance)
Give two examples of mechanical waves.
Sound and waves on springs
Is sound transverse or longitudinal?
Longitudinal
What causes sound?
Vibrations
Give three examples of a transverse wave.
Light waves, radio waves, water waves
What is the name of the top of a wave (the point
with maximum displacement)?
The peak or crest
What is name of the bottom of the wave?
The trough
What is the equilibrium position?
The undisturbed position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating
What is the displacement of a wave?
The distance that a certain point in the medium has moved from the equilibrium position.
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The maximum displacement of a point of a wave
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The distance between two wave peaks
What symbol is used to represent the wavelength?
lamda, λ
What is the unit of wavelength?
metres (m)
What is a wave front?
A line that joins all the wave peaks of a wave together
What is superposition?
The effect of two waves meeting and adding up or subtracting
What is the frequency of a wave?
The number of waves passing a point per second
What symbol is used to represent the frequency?
f
What is the unit of frequency?
Hertz (Hz)
What is the period of a wave?
The time taken for a full cycle of the wave
What symbol is used to represent the period?
T
What is the unit for period?
Seconds (s)
What is the relationship between frequency and
period of a wave?
T = 1/f
Which colour of visible light has the longest
wavelength
Red
Which colour has the highest frequency?
Violet.
What is the wave equation in words?
Wave speed = wavelength x frequency
What is the wave equation using symbols?
v = λf
What is an electromagnetic wave?
A transverse wave whose vibrations are changes within electric and magnetic fields
What speed do all electromagnetic waves travel at
in a vacuum?
3,000,000,00 metres per second
What letter is used to denote the speed of light?
c
What is the speed of sound in air?
340 metres per second
