Properties of Waves

Question 1

Complete this sentence:
Waves transfer ________ and _________ but do not transfer ________.

Answer 1

Waves transfer ENERGY and INFORMATION but do not transfer MATTER.

Question 2

What are the two types of waves?

Answer 2

1. Transverse
2. Longitudinal

Question 3

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Give two examples of transverse waves.

Answer 5

1. Electromagnetic waves
2. Seismic s-waves

Question 6

Give two examples of longitudinal waves.

Answer 6

1. Sound waves
2. Seismic p-waves

Question 7

What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

Answer 7

Compressions and rarefactions

Question 8

What are the two parts of a transverse wave called?

Answer 8

Peaks and troughs

Question 9

What is a wave’s amplitude?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is wavelength?

Answer 10

• 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 11

What is the frequency of a wave?

Answer 11

The number of wages that pass a given point each second.

Question 12

What is the unit used for frequency?

Answer 12

Hertz, Hz

Question 13

What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?

Answer 13

200 waves pass a given point each second

Question 14

What is wave speed?

Answer 14

The speed at which energy is train through a medium

Question 15

What does a wave transfer?

Answer 15

Energy

Question 17

What is wave velocity?

Answer 17

Wave velocity (measured in metres per second) is equal to the product of the wavelength and frequency of the wave

Question 18

State the equation used to calculate wave speed. Give appropriate units.

Answer 18

Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength

Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz), Wavelength (m)

Question 19

What is meant by the period of the wave?

Answer 19

The length of time it takes for one full wave to pass through a point