4.2 Wave Speed 5/7

Question 1

What does this equation mean?

Answer 1

The speed of a wave equals the wavelength times the frequency.

Question 2

Why should you use 343 m/s as the speed of sound (unless the question says otherwise)?

Answer 2

It is the speed of sound through AIR, which is the most common scenario.

Question 3

What factors might change the speed of sound in air?

Answer 3

• Pressure
• Humidity
• Temperature
• Elevation

Question 4

True or False: The speed of sound is constant in all mediums.

Answer 4

False

it changes in different mediums a great deal

Question 5

The speed of sound varies depending on the _______.

Answer 5

[medium]

Question 6

What does the speed of sound depend on the medium?

Answer 6

The density of the medium is very important to sound waves

Question 7

What should you assume about the speed of sound unless told otherwise?

Answer 7

The sound is travelling through AIR

Question 8

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

Answer 8

Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional.

Whe one gets bigger, the other gets smaller.

Question 9

True or False: As frequency increases, wavelength decreases.

Answer 9

True.

Question 10

What happens to the wavelength if the frequency of a wave is doubled?

Answer 10

The wavelength is divided in half.

Question 11

What unit is commonly used to measure frequency?

Answer 11

Hertz (Hz).

Question 12

True or False: Wavelength is measured in meters.

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

If a wave has a wavelength of 2 meters, what is its frequency (if the speed of light is 300,000 km/s)?

Answer 13

150,000 Hz.

Question 14

True or False: The relationship between wavelength and frequency applies only to electromagnetic waves.

Answer 14

False.

Question 15

What happens to the frequency if the wavelength is increased?

Answer 15

The frequency decreases.

Question 16

What does the symbol ‘λ’ represent?

Answer 16

Wavelength.

Question 17

Can the frequency of a wave change when it travels through a different medium?

Answer 17

No. Frequency remains constant.

When a wave enters a new medium with a different density, its wavelength adjusts to maintain the same frequency.

Question 18

What is the frequency of a wave with a wavelength of 1 m traveling at 300 m/s?

Answer 18

300 Hz.

Question 19

True or False: A wave with a longer wavelength carries more energy than a wave with a shorter wavelength.

Answer 19

False.

Waves with shorter wavelengths carry MORE energy