P6 - Waves

Question 1

what happens when a wave travels through a medium?

Answer 1

the particles of the medium oscillate and transfer energy between each other (PARTICLES STAY IN THE SAME PLACE, only energy is transferred)

Question 2

what is the amplitude of a wave?

Answer 2

the maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed positionw

Question 3

what is a wavelength?

Answer 3

the distance between the same point on two adjacent waves

Question 4

what is the frequency of a wave?

Answer 4

the number of complete waves passing a certain point per second (measure in hertz)

Question 5

what equation links the period and frequency?

Answer 5

T = 1/f

Question 6

what is the symbol for Periods?

Answer 6

T

Question 7

what kind of vibrations do transverse waves have?

Answer 7

sideways vibrations

Question 8

describe the oscillations of transverse waves

Answer 8

perpendicular at (90) degrees to the direction of the energy transverse

Question 9

examples of transverse waves

Answer 9

-all electromagnetic waves
-ripples and waves in water
-a wave on a string

Question 10

what kind of vibrations do longitudinal waves have?

Answer 10

in longitudinal waves, the oscillations are parallel to the direction of the energy transfer

Question 11

what is the equation that links wave speed, frequency and wavelength

Answer 11

waves speed = frequency x wavelength

Question 12

units for:
wave-speed
frequency
wavelength

Answer 12

m/s
Hz
m

Question 13

what is the definition of the wave speed?

Answer 13

the wave speed is the speed at which energy is being transferred

Question 14

practical: using an oscilloscope to measure the speed of sound

Answer 14

1) set up the oscilloscope so the detected waves at each microphone are shown as separate waves
2)start with both microscope next to the separate (FINISH)

Question 15

PRATICAL

Question 16

PRACTICAL

Question 17

what 3 things can happen when a wave meets a boundary between 2 materials?

Answer 17

-wave can be ABSORBED by the 2nd material, then the wave transfers energy to the materials energy stores (often transferred to thermal energy)
-wave can be TRANSMITTED through the second material, the wave carries on travelling through the new material. (leads to refraction)
-wave can be REFLECTED where the incoming ray is neither absorbed or transmitted, but sent back away from the material

Question 18

explain the EM Wave spectrum, in the ascending order of frequency, energy

Answer 18

radio waves low freq
microwaves low energy
infrared
visible light
ultraviolet
x-rays high freq
gamma rays high energy

Question 19

what kind of waves are EM waves? (electromagnetic)

Answer 19

transverse waves