Waves Unit

Question 1

Wave

Answer 1

The repeating and periodic disturbance that travels through a medium (e.g. water) from one location to another location

Question 2

Medium

Answer 2

The substance that transfers the energy, or light from one substance to another substance or from one place to another, or from one surface to another

Question 3

Transverse Wave

Answer 3

A wave that oscillates perpendicularly to the direction of the wave’s advance

Question 4

Congressional Wave

Answer 4

A wave consisting of a periodic disturbance or vibration that takes place in the same direction as the advance of the wave

Question 5

Sound Waves

Answer 5

The pattern of disturbance caused by the movement of energy traveling through a medium (such as air, water or any other liquid or solid matter) as it propagates away from the source of the sound

Question 6

Water Waves

Answer 6

A disturbance in the form of a ridge or swell on the surface of a body of water that travels in a forward motion

Question 7

Seismic Waves

Answer 7

Vibrations in the earth that transmit energy and occur during seismic activity

Question 8

Crests

Answer 8

The highest surface part of a wave

Question 9

Troughs

Answer 9

The lowest point below the rest position in a wave

Question 10

Wavelength

Answer 10

The distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves

Question 11

Frequency

Answer 11

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time

Question 12

Amplitude

Answer 12

The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position

Question 13

Refraction

Answer 13

The change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another caused by its change in speed

Question 14

Diffractions

Answer 14

The spreading of waves around obstacles

Question 15

Interference

Answer 15

The net effect of the combination of two or more wave trains moving on intersecting or coincident paths

Question 16

Standing Wave

Answer 16

The combination of two waves moving in opposite directions

Question 17

Resonance

Answer 17

A phenomenon that occurs when an object or system is subjected to an external force or vibration that matches its natural frequency

Question 18

Eardrum

Answer 18

A thin membrane located in the outer ear that responds to sound waves by vibrating

Question 19

Cochlea

Answer 19

A fluid-filled, spiral-shaped cavity found in the inner ear that plays a vital role in the sense of hearing and participates in the process of auditory transduction

Question 20

Intensity

Answer 20

The power transferred per unit area

Question 21

Loudness

Answer 21

Attribute of auditory sensation in terms of which sounds can be ordered on a scale extending from quiet to loud

Question 22

Decibel

Answer 22

Expresses the ratio of two values of a power or root-power quantity on a logarithmic scale

Question 23

Pitch

Answer 23

The quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it

Question 24

Ultrasonic

Answer 24

Vibrations of frequencies greater than the upper limit of the audible range for humans

Question 25

Doppler Effect

Answer 25

The effect produced by a moving source of waves in which there is an apparent upward shift in frequency

Question 26

Overtone

Answer 26

A term generally applied to any higher-frequency standing wave

Question 27

Acoustics

Answer 27

Branch of physics that deals with the study of mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including topics such as vibration, sound, ultrasound and infra sound

Question 28

Echolocation

Answer 28

The process of determining the location of an object by emitting sound waves and measuring the time it takes for the reflected sound waves (echoes) to return to the source

Question 29

Sonar

Answer 29

Technique for detecting and determining the distance and direction of underwater objects by acoustic means