Longitudinal and transverse waves

• What do waves transfer from one place to another?

  Energy
• What happens when light waves pass from a phone screen to your eye?


  Only energy is being transferred
• How does our brain interpret the energy transferred by waves?


  It builds up images and tunes from light and sounds
• What is the term for how far the wave has traveled from the starting point?


  Distance
• What is the maximum displacement of a wave called?

  Amplitude
• What is the wavelength of a wave?

  The distance between a point on one wave and on the same point on the next wave
• What are the two main parts of a wave mentioned?

  Crest and trough
• What does a displacement time graph show?


  Time on the x-axis instead of distance
• What is the time period of a wave?


  The time it takes for one complete oscillation
• How is frequency measured?


  In hertz, as the number of complete oscillations per second
• If the time period of a wave is 0.5 seconds, what is its frequency?


  2 Hz
• How do you calculate the frequency from the time period?

  Frequency = 1 / Time period
• If the frequency of a wave is 4 Hz, what is its time period?


  0.25 seconds
• How do you calculate the wave speed?

  Wave speed = Wavelength × Frequency
• What is the wave speed of a sound wave with a frequency of 400 Hz and a wavelength of 70 cm?


  280 m/s
• Why do we convert wavelengths to meters?


  To maintain consistency in units
• What are transverse waves?


  Waves where vibrations are at right angles (perpendicular) to the direction the wave travel
• What are examples of transverse waves?


  Light waves, radio waves, and water waves
• How do longitudinal waves oscillate?Vibrations are in the same direction (parallel) to the direction the wave travels
• What are examples of longitudinal waves?


  Sound waves and seismic p waves
• What are the key differences between transverse and longitudinal waves?

  • Transverse waves: vibrations (oscillations) are at right angles (perpendicular) to the direction the wave travels
  • Longitudinal waves: vibrations (oscillations) are in the same direction (parallel) to the direction the wave travels
  • Examples:
  • Transverse: light waves, water waves
  • Longitudinal: sound waves, seismic p waves