Waves, sound and light

Question 1

Explain what a wave is?

Answer 1

Transmits energy
Particles of the medium oscillate
Particles move up and down or back and forth but don’t move

Question 2

What is the definition of oscillation?

Answer 2

the movements of particles to and fro between two points

Question 3

What is the definition of amplitude?

Answer 3

The maximum displacement of a particle from it’s rest position

Question 4

What is the difference between a crest and a trough?

Answer 4

The crest is the highest point of a wave and the trough is the lowest point of a wave

Question 5

What is the definition of the term superposition?

Answer 5

The algebraic sum of the amplitudes of two waves that occupy the same space at the same time

Question 6

What is the definition of constructive interference?

Answer 6

The crest of one wave overlaps with the crest of another wave to produce an increased amplitude

Question 7

What is the definition of destructive interference?

Answer 7

The crest of one wave overlaps with the trough of another to produce a decreased amplitude

Question 8

What happens after superposition?

Answer 8

the waves continue in the original direction of motion with it’s original amplitude

Question 9

What is the definition of the term transverse waves?

Answer 9

A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the wave

Question 10

What happens in a transverse wave?

Answer 10

The particles move up and down while the wave moves forward, particles don’t travel with the wave

Question 11

What is the definition of a longitudinal wave?

Answer 11

A wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of motion of the wave

Question 12

What is the definition of the term compression?

Answer 12

A region of high pressure in a longitudinal wave

Question 13

What is the definition of the term rarefraction?

Answer 13

A region of low pressure in a longitudinal wave

Question 14

What is the definition of the term period?

Answer 14

Time taken for one complete oscillation

Question 15

What is the definition of frequency?

Answer 15

Number of oscillations for every one second

Question 16

What is oscillations measured in?

Answer 16

hertz (Hz)

Question 17

What is a wavelength?

Answer 17

the distance a wave travels in one oscillation

Question 18

Explain sound as a wave?

Answer 18

Longitudinal wave
As pressure changes, particles transfer energy
Can be transferred through solid, liquids and gases

Question 19

Which objects absorb and reflect sound?

Answer 19

Hard objects reflect sound
Soft objects absorb sound

Question 20

What is pitch?

Answer 20

How high or low a note is
Depends on frequency
Higher frequency = higher note

Question 21

What is loudness?

Answer 21

How loud a note is
Depends on amplitude
Higher amplitude = higher sounds

Question 22

What is the difference between noise and a music note?

Answer 22

A music note is a sound caused by regular vibrations and a noise is irregular vibrations with a mixture of different frequencies

Question 23

What is wave speed?

Answer 23

The distance travelled by a point on a wave per unit time

Question 24

What kind of waves are sound waves?

Answer 24

Longitudinal waves

Question 25

What happens to the particles in a sound wave?

Answer 25

As the pressure changes, particles transfer energy

Question 26

What travels further? Sound or light?

Answer 26

Light

Question 27

What is ultrasound?

Answer 27

Sound between 20Hz and 20000Hz Humans can't hear it Used in echolocation

Question 28

What is the definition of ultrasound?

Answer 28

When sound waves reach a boundary between two media, part of the wave reflects back, part of it transmits through. The reflected parts are captured by a computer and an image can be generated

Question 29

What is ultrasound used for?

Answer 29

Tumors Deformed organs Break up kidney stones

Question 30

What are the 2 types of waves?

Answer 30

Mechanical waves Electromagnetic waves

Question 31

What are the principels of mechanical waves?

Answer 31

Either transverse or longitudinal Disrupts the particles of the medium its travelling through Transfer energy not particles

Question 32

What are the principles of electromagnetic waves?

Answer 32

Transverse Disturbtion of the electric and magnetic field Electric and magnetic field changes Carries energy

Question 33

What is wave-particle duality?

Answer 33

Electromagnetic radiation exhibits both wave properties and particle properties at the same time

Question 34

What are photons?

Answer 34

Discrete packets of energy Elementary particle Do not have mass Called "quanta of energy" Carries a certain amount of energy travels at the speed of light

Question 35

Explain the energy carried by a photon.

Answer 35

High frequency > short wavelength > more energy

Question 36

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

Answer 36

7 types of radiation

Question 37

What are the 7 types of electromagnetic radiations?

Answer 37

Radio waves Microwaves Infrared Visible light Ultraviolet X-rays Gamma rays