Waves-science

• Frequency (f) is measured in Hertz (Hz). One hertz means one cycle per second.
• What type of wave is a sound wave?

  Longitudinal wave
• How do particles behave in a longitudinal wave?

  They vibrate in the direction of wave propagation
• If the period of a wave is $0.2 \, \text{s}$, what is its frequency?


  $5 \, \text{Hz}$
• What happens to the speed of a wave when it moves from air into water?

  The speed slows down
• Why does the speed of a wave change when moving from air to water?

  Particles in water are more tightly packed
• What is the difference between a longitudinal and a transverse wave?

  • Longitudinal waves: particles move in the same direction as the wave (e.g., sound waves).
  • Transverse waves: particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave (e.g., light waves, waves on a string).