6.1 - Properties of Waves

• Transverse waves - the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer of the wave.

  A) amplitude

  B) trough

  C) crest

  D) wavelength

  
• Longitudinal waves - the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer of the wave.

  A) compression

  B) rarefaction

  C) wavelength

  
• Frequency is the number of complete waves passing a certain point per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).
• The period of a wave is the amount of time it takes for a full cycle of the wave to be completed. The equation for this is:

  $T =$$1/f$
• The wave speed is the speed at which energy is being transferred. The equation for this is:

  $v =$$fw$
• Fill in the blanks to measure the speed of sound:

  A) signal generator

  B) oscilloscope

  C) 1 wavelength

  D) soundwaves

  
• Fill in the blanks to measure the speed of water ripples:

  A) lamp

  B) vibrating bar

  C) power pack

  D) water

  E) ripple tank

  F) white paper

  
• Fill in the blanks for observing a wave on a string:

  A) wavelength

  B) pulley

  C) weight

  D) bridge

  E) oscillator

  F) string length

  
• When waves arrive at a boundary between two different materials, three things can happen:

  • Absorption - the waves may be absorbed by the material the wave is trying to cross into. Transferring energy to the material's energy stores.
  • Reflection - the waves may bounce back
  • Transmission - the waves may be transmitted. Meaning they carry on travelling through the new material.
• Labelling a refraction diagram:

  A) incident ray

  B) normal

  C) refracted ray

  D) angle of incidence

  E) angle of refraction

  
• Refraction occurs because waves travel at different speeds through different materials. When a waves refracts, its speed changes, but its frequency stays the same.
• The way the wave bends depends on whether it moves faster or slower in the new medium:

  • if a wave slows down, it bends towards the normal
  • if a wave speeds up, it bends away from the normal
• Label the reflected ray diagram:

  A) incident ray

  B) angle of incidence

  C) normal

  D) angle of reflection

  E) reflected ray

  F) mirror

  G) i=r

  
• Specular reflection happens when parallel waves are reflected i single direction by a smooth surface.
• Diffuse reflection is when parallel waves are reflected by a rough surface and the reflected rays are scattered in lots of different directions.
• Label the reflection investigation:

  A) ray box

  B) paper

  C) plane mirror

  
• Label the refraction investigation:

  A) ray box

  B) slit

  C) glass block