P6 - Waves 1

Question 1

What are the two types of waves?

Answer 1

1. Transverse
2. Longitudinal

Question 2

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 2

A wave for which the oscillations ( vibrations) are perpendicular to the direction of energy trasnfer

Question 3

What is a longitudinal wave ?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Give two examples of transverse waves

Answer 4

1. Electromagnetic waves
2. Seismic s-waves

Question 5

Give two examples of longitudinal waves.

Answer 5

1. Sound waves
2. Seismic p-waves

Question 6

What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called ?

Answer 6

Compressions and rarefractions

Question 7

What is a waves amplitude?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is wavelength ?

Answer 8

• the distance from a point on a wave to the same position on the adjacent wave

Question 9

What is the frequency wave ?

Answer 9

The number of waves that pass a given point each second

Question 10

What is the unit used for frequency

Answer 10

Hertz , Hz

Question 11

What is meany by a frequency of 200Hz?

Answer 11

200 waves pass a given point each second.

Question 12

What is wave speed ?

Answer 12

The speed at which the wave moves or at which energy is transferred through a medium

Question 13

What does a wave transfer?

Answer 13

Energy

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength

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

Question 15

What word is used to describe when a wave bounces off a surface?

Answer 15

Reflection

Question 16

How do sound waves travel through a solid ?

Answer 16

The particles in the solid vibrate and transfer kinetic energy through the material

Question 17

What is the frequency range of human hearing ?

Answer 17

20 Hz - 20kHz

(1kHz = 1000 Hz)

Question 18

What are ultrasound waves?

Answer 18

Waves which have a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing (20kHz).

Question 19

Give an example use for ultrasound waves ?

Answer 19

Medical or industrial imaging

Question 20

What natural event causes seismic waves to be produced ? What types are produced?

Answer 20

• Earthquakes
• They produce both P-waves and S-waves

Question 21

State a difference between the mediums that P-waves and S-waves can travel through

Answer 21

• P-waves travel through both solids and liquids
• S-waves only travel through solids (not liquids)

Question 22

What technique is used to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth ?

Answer 22

• Echo sounding
• High frequency sound waves are emitted, reflected and detected
• Time difference between emission and detection, alongside wave speed, are used to calculate distances