Waves in Air, Fluids and Solids

• What are the two types of waves?

  Transverse and longitudinal
• What is a transverse wave?

  Oscillations are perpendicular to energy transfer
• What is a longitudinal wave?

  Oscillations are parallel to energy transfer
• Give two examples of transverse waves.

  Electromagnetic waves and seismic s-waves
• Give two examples of longitudinal waves.

  Sound waves and seismic p-waves
• What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave called?

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

  Maximum displacement from undisturbed position
• What is wavelength?

  Distance from one wave point to the next
• What is the frequency of a wave?

  Number of waves passing a point each second
• What is the unit used for frequency?

  Hertz, Hz
• What does a frequency of 200Hz mean?

  200 waves pass a point each second
• What is wave speed?

  Speed at which the wave moves through a medium
• What does a wave transfer?

  Energy
• State the equation used to calculate wave speed.

  Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength
• What are the units for wave speed, frequency, and wavelength?

  Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz), Wavelength (m)
• What word describes when a wave bounces off a surface?

  Reflection
• How do sound waves travel through a solid?

  Particles vibrate and transfer kinetic energy
• What is the frequency range of human hearing?

  20 Hz - 20kHz
• What are ultrasound waves?

  Waves with frequency higher than 20kHz
• Give an example use for ultrasound waves.

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

  Earthquakes
• What types of seismic waves are produced by earthquakes?

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

  1. waves travel through solids and liquids
• What technique is used to detect objects in deep water?

  Echo sounding
• How does echo sounding work?

  High frequency sound waves are emitted and reflected
• How are distances calculated in echo sounding?

  Using time difference and wave speed