P6.1 - Waves in Air, Fluids, and Solids

• What are the two types of waves?

  Transverse and longitudinal
• What is a transverse wave?

  A transverse wave is a type of wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave.
• What is a longitudinal wave?

  A longitudinal wave is a wave in which the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave.
• Give 2 examples of transverse waves

  Electromagnetic and light
• Give 2 examples of longitudinal waves

  Sound and ultrasound
• What are 2 parts of a longitudinal wave called?

  Compressions and rarefactions
• What is a wave's amplitude?

  The maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium position.
• What is wavelength?

  The distance between two consecutive points of a wave. Most commonly peak to peak or trough to trough.
• What is frequency of a wave?

  The number of waves that pass a given point each second, measured in Hertz (Hz)
• What is wave speed?

  The speed at which a wave travels through a medium.
• What do waves transfer?

  Energy
• State equation used to calculate wave speed

  Wave speed = Frequency x Wavelength
• What word is used to describe when a wave bounces off a surface?

  Reflection
• How do sound waves travel through a solid?


  The particles in the solid vibrate and transfer kinetic energy through the material.
• What is the frequency of human hearing?

  20 Hz - 20 kHz
• What are ultrasound waves?

  Waves which have a frequency higher than the upper limit of human hearing.
• Give an example use for ultrasound waves

  Medical or industrial imaging
• What natural event causes seismic waves to be produced? What type are produced?

  Earthquakes

  Produce both P-waves and S-waves
• What is a difference between the mediums that P-waves and S-waves can travel through?

  P-waves can travel through both solids and liquids, however S-waves can ONLY travel through solids.
• What technique is used to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth?

  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.