physics - waves

Question 1

What is a wave?

Answer 1

A wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium, transferring energy without transferring matter.

Question 2

True or False: Waves can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is the wavelength of a wave?

Answer 3

The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs.

Question 4

Which type of wave requires a medium to travel?

Answer 4

Mechanical waves.

Question 5

Multiple choice: Which of the following is an example of an electromagnetic wave? A) Sound wave B) Light wave C) Water wave

Answer 5

B) Light wave

Question 6

What is frequency?

Answer 6

The number of waves that pass a point in one second.

Question 7

True or False: Higher frequency waves have longer wavelengths.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

What is the unit of frequency?

Answer 8

Hertz (Hz)

Question 9

Fill in the blank: The lowest point of a wave is called the ___.

Answer 9

trough

Question 10

Multiple choice: Which of the following does NOT affect wave speed? A) Medium B) Amplitude C) Temperature

Answer 10

B) Amplitude

Question 11

What is the formula for wave speed?

Answer 11

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength

Question 12

True or False: Waves can interfere with each other.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

True or False: Water waves are a combination of transverse and longitudinal waves.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

What is diffraction?

Answer 14

The bending of waves around obstacles or through openings.

Question 15

Multiple choice: Which phenomenon explains why we can hear someone around a corner? A) Reflection B) Refraction C) Diffraction

Answer 15

C) Diffraction

Question 16

Fill in the blank: The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of ___.

Answer 16

reflection

Question 17

What happens during refraction?

Answer 17

Waves change speed and direction when they pass from one medium to another.

Question 18

True or False: Sound travels faster in air than in water.

Answer 18

False

Question 19

How is sound produced?

Answer 19

Sound is produced by vibrations that create pressure waves in a medium such as air, water, or solids.

Question 20

How does sound travel?

Answer 20

Sound travels as a wave through a medium, such as air, water, or solid materials.

Sound requires a medium to propagate.

Question 21

How does light travel?

Answer 21

Light travels as a wave and can move through a vacuum.

Light does not require a medium to propagate.

Question 22

What is pitch in relation to sound?

Answer 22

Pitch describes how high or low a sound is.

Question 23

What is loudness in relation to sound?

Answer 23

Loudness is how much a sound can be felt or heard.

Question 24

Define frequency.

Answer 24

Frequency is the number of vibrations per unit second time.

Question 25

Define wavelength.

Answer 25

Wavelength is the distance covered by a wave in one cycle, measured in metres.

Question 26

Define time period.

Answer 26

Time period (T) is the time for one complete wave in seconds. ## Footnote Example: The Renaissance is a time period known for its cultural revival.

Question 27

Define amplitude.

Answer 27

Amplitude is the distance the wave vibrates from the middle point.

Question 28

If a wave has a higher frequency will the wavelength be shorter or longer? What about a lower frequency?

Answer 28

The wavelength will be shorter. The wavelength will be longer.

Question 29

What can an oscilloscope be used for?

Answer 29

An oscilloscope can be used to show the frequency and amplitude of a sound wave. ## Footnote This allows for the analysis of waveforms, frequencies, and signal integrity.

Question 30

What is the name for the symbol of wavelength called?

Answer 30

Lambda.

Question 31

Steve shouts across the room to Jane. Explain how the sound waves travel?

Answer 31

The oscillations passes from particle to particle.

Question 32

Explain what vibrating means.

Answer 32

Moving backwards to forwards.

Question 33

Which state of matter will sound travel fastest?

Answer 33

Sound travels fastest in solids. ## Footnote This is due to the closer proximity of particles in solids, allowing for quicker transmission of sound waves.

Question 34

Why can't a liquid be compressed?

Answer 34

There are no gaps between the liquid particles.

Question 35

Why is sound quieter on the other side of the wall?

Answer 35

Reflected by the wall.

Question 36

What is greater when the sound is louder on a wave?

Answer 36

Amplitude.

Question 37

What device converts sound into electrical impulses?

Answer 37

A microphone.

Question 38

A sailor counts 6 waves passing them every 30 seconds. What is the frequency of the waves?

Answer 38

6/30 is equal to 1/5. 1.5 is equal to 0.2, remember to add the frequency unit at the end (Hz)!

Question 39

It takes 4 seconds for 10 waves to reach the edge of the pool. Calculate the frequency of one wave.

Answer 39

4:10 is the same as 1:2.5, meaning the frequency is 2.5Hz per wave.

Question 40

How do you calculate the top speed on a distance time graph?

Answer 40

Find the steepest gradient (most vertical part) and use the triangle method to calculate the speed.

Question 41

Explain what is meant by "a wave causes the air to vibrate at a frequency of 40kHz".

Answer 41

40,000 waves travelling in one second.

Question 42

The density of air is higher at sea level. Explain how this will influence the speed of a wave.

Answer 42

The wave(s) will travel faster as they move faster in denser materials.

Question 43

The distance between the peaks of 5 waves is 20m. Calculate the wavelength of the waves.

Answer 43

To calculate the wavelength, simply do 20m divided by 5 which will give you 4m as your answer.

Question 44

24 waves break on beach in 1 minute. Calculate the frequency of the water waves.

Answer 44

To find the frequency, do 24 divided by 60 seconds (1 minute) which will give you the correct answer of 0.4Hz.

Question 45

A wave has a frequency of 150 megahertz. Convert this to hertz.

Answer 45

To do this, multiply 150 by 1,000,000 to give you the result of 150, 000, 000.

Question 46

A wave has a wavelength of 0.002 gigametres (Gm). Convert the wavelength to metres.

Answer 46

0.002Gm = wavelength. 1Gm is equal to 1, 000, 000, 000. So, 0.002 times by the value of 1Gm is 2, 000, 000 metres.

Question 47

What is the difference between mean speed and top speed?

Answer 47

Mean speed refers to the average speed over a certain period or distance, calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. Top speed is the maximum speed that a vehicle or object can reach.

Question 48

What is loudness/amplitude measured in?

Answer 48

Decibels.

Question 49

How does a standing wave form on a Rubens Tube?

Answer 49

Reflected wave (from the end) interfering with the wave from the speaker.