properties of waves

• What do waves transfer?

  Energy and information
• How are waves described?

  As oscillations or vibrations about a fixed point
• What happens to water particles when ripples occur?

  They oscillate up and down
• How do sound waves affect air particles?

  They vibrate back and forth
• What do waves do without transferring matter?

  Transfer energy
• How does a toy duck demonstrate that waves do not transfer matter?

  • The duck is a transverse wave
  • It moves up and down, not forward
  • Waves transfer energy, not particles
• What type of wave is present on the surface of water?

  Transverse wave
• What is the motion of the toy duck in water?

  It moves up and down
• What do both transverse and longitudinal waves transfer?

  Energy
• What is amplitude defined as?

  The distance from undisturbed position to peak
• What symbol represents amplitude?

  A
• How is wavelength defined?

  The distance from one point on the wave to the same point on the next wave
• What symbol represents wavelength?

  λ (lambda)
• How is frequency defined?

  The number of waves passing a point in a second
• What symbol represents frequency?

  f
• What is the time period of a wave?

  The time taken for a single wave to pass a point
• What symbol represents time period?

  T
• How is wave velocity defined?

  The distance traveled by a wave each second
• What are the key terms used to describe wave motion?

  • Amplitude
  • Wavelength
  • Frequency
  • Time Period
  • Wave velocity
  • Wavefront
• What do wavefronts represent?

  A single wave from above
• How are transverse waves defined?

  Points vibrate at 90 degrees to energy transfer
• Where can transverse waves move?

  In solids and on liquid surfaces
• What is the peak of a transverse wave?

  The highest point above the rest position
• What is the trough of a transverse wave?

  The lowest point below the rest position
• How are transverse waves represented in diagrams?

  As a continuous line with peaks and troughs
• How are longitudinal waves defined?

  Points vibrate parallel to the direction of energy transfer
• Where can longitudinal waves move?

  In solids, liquids, and gases
• What are compressions in longitudinal waves?

  Points that are close together
• What are rarefactions in longitudinal waves?

  Points that are spaced apart
• What are the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves?

  • Transverse: peaks and troughs, perpendicular vibration
  • Longitudinal: compressions and rarefactions, parallel vibration
  • Transverse: can move in solids and liquid surfaces
  • Longitudinal: can move in solids, liquids, and gases
• What is the wave equation?

  v = f × λ
• What does 'v' represent in the wave equation?

  Wave speed in m/s
• What does 'f' represent in the wave equation?

  Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
• What does 'λ' represent in the wave equation?

  Wavelength in metres (m)
• How do you calculate wave speed?

  Using the equation v = x / t
• How do you calculate frequency from time period?

  f = 1 / T
• How do you calculate wavelength from wave speed and frequency?

  λ = v / f
• What are the methods to measure the speed of sound?

  1. Measuring sound between two points
  2. Using echoes
  3. Using an oscilloscope
• What is the first method to measure the speed of sound?

  Measuring sound between two points
• How is the speed of sound measured using echoes?

  By timing claps and listening for echoes