6.1 Waves in air, fluids and solids

Question 1

what are the two types of waves?

Answer 1

1. transverse
2. longitudinal

Question 2

what is a transverse wave?

Answer 2

a wave for which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

Question 3

what is a longitudal wave?

Answer 3

a wave for which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

Question 4

give two examples of transverse waves.

Answer 4

1. electromagnetic waves
2. seismic s-waves

Question 4

give two examples of longitudal waves.

Answer 4

1. sound waves
2. siesmic p-waves

Question 5

what are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

Answer 5

compressions and rarefactions.

Question 5

what is a wave’s amplitude?

Answer 5

the maximum displacement of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position.

Question 6

what is wavelength?

Answer 6

• the distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave
• most commonly peak to peak or trough to trough

Question 7

what is the frequency of a wave?

Answer 7

the number of waves that pass a given point each second.

Question 8

what is the unit used for frequency?

Answer 8

hertz, Hz

Question 8

what is meany by a frequency of 200Hx?

Answer 8

200 waves pass a given point each second.

Question 9

what does a wave transfer?

Answer 9

energy

Question 9

what is a wave speed?

Answer 9

the speed at which the wave moves or at which energy is transferred through a medium.

Question 9

what word is used to describe when a wave bounces off a surface?

Answer 9

reflection

Question 9

how do sound waves travel through a solid?

Answer 9

the particles in the solid vibrate and transfer kinetic energy through the material.

Question 10

state the equation used to calculate wave speed.

Answer 10

wave speed = frequency x wavelength#
speed (m/s), frequency (Hz), wavelength (m)

Question 11

what is the frequency range of human hearing?

Answer 11

20 Hz - 20 kHz
(1 kHz = 1000 Hz)

Question 12

what are ultrasound waves?

Answer 12

waves which have a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing (20kHz).

Question 13

give an example use for ultrasound waves?

Answer 13

medical or industrial imaging.

Question 14

what natural event causes seismic waves to be produced? what types are produced?

Answer 14

• earthquakes
• they produce both p-waves and s-waves

Question 15

state a difference between the mediums that p-waves and s-waves can travel through.

Answer 15

• p-waves travel through both solids and liquids
• s-waves only travel through solids (not liquids)

Question 15

what technique is used to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth?

Answer 15

• echo sounding
• high frequency sound waves are emitted, reflected and detected
• time difference between emission and detection, alongside wave speed, are used to calculate distances