waves in air fluids and solids

• Into what two categories do all types of waves fall?

  Transverse and longitudinal
• What kind of wave are ripples on the surface of water?

  Transverse waves
• What type of wave are sound waves traveling in air?

  Longitudinal waves
• What do all waves transfer from one place to another?

  Energy
• What kind of energy do ripples transfer?

  Kinetic energy
• What type of energy do sound waves transfer?

  Sound energy
• What do scientists call the movements of a transverse wave?

  Oscillations
• In transverse waves, what is the relationship between oscillations and the direction of energy transfer?

  Perpendicular
• What does the word 'perpendicular' mean?

  At right angles
• In a longitudinal wave, what are the regions where particles are close together called?

  Compressions
• In a longitudinal wave, what are the regions where particles are spaced out called?

  Rarefactions
• What is the key feature of a longitudinal wave regarding oscillations and energy transfer?

  Oscillations are parallel to energy transfer
• What do all longitudinal waves require to travel in?

  A medium
• Do all transverse waves require a medium to travel?

  No
• What is the key fact about waves and the medium they travel through?

  The wave travels, not the medium
• What are the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves?

  • Transverse waves: oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
  • Longitudinal waves: oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.
  • Longitudinal waves require a medium, while not all transverse waves do.
• What evidence demonstrates that waves move, not the medium?

  • Slinky demonstration: a marked point (representing a particle) oscillates but does not travel along the medium.
  • This applies to both transverse and longitudinal waves.
• What is the amplitude of a wave?

  The farthest point the wave vibrates
• What is the wavelength of a wave?

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

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

  Hertz
• How many waves per second is one Hertz?

  One wave per second
• What is wave speed?

  Speed the wave moves through the medium
• What does wave speed describe?

  The speed at which energy is transferred
• How do you calculate wave speed?

  Frequency multiplied by wavelength
• What units is wave speed measured in?

  Meters per second
• What units is frequency measured in?

  Hertz
• What units is wavelength measured in?

  Meters
• How do you calculate the speed of sound waves in air in the described experiment?

  Divide the distance travelled by the time taken
• Why does increasing the distance help with the time between seeing and hearing?

  The longer distance means longer time
• What happens when a wave hits a boundary with a different material?

  Reflection, absorption, or transmission can occur
• What is the term for the change in direction of a wave when it passes from one material to another?

  Refraction
• What happens if the energy of the wave is absorbed by the material?

  The wave may not pass through
• What three things can happen when a wave hits a material?

  Transmission, absorption, or reflection
• What two factors determine whether a wave is transmitted, absorbed, or reflected?

  Material and wavelength
• What is the name given to the ray of light striking the surface of a mirror?

  Incident ray
• What should always be included on a ray diagram?

  Arrows showing the ray's direction
• What is drawn as a dotted line at right angles to the surface of the mirror?

  The normal
• What is measured between the incident ray and the normal?

  The angle of incidence
• What is the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?

  They are equal