waves

• 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
• 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 point on a wave to the same point on the next wave
• 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
• What natural event causes seismic waves to be produced?

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

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

  P-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
• What is used to calculate distances in echo sounding?

  Time difference and wave speed
• What type of spectrum do electromagnetic waves form?

  A continuous spectrum
• Order the types of electromagnetic radiation from lowest to highest frequency.

  • Radio waves
  • Microwaves
  • Infrared
  • Visible Light
  • Ultraviolet
  • X-rays
  • Gamma Rays
• How do the speeds of EM radiation differ in a vacuum and in air?

  They all travel at the same speed
• What property of waves in different mediums causes refraction?

  Velocity
• How does wave speed affect refraction in denser materials?

  Wave speed is slower in denser materials
• In which direction do waves refract when entering a denser medium?

  They bend towards the normal
• What type of waves can be produced by oscillations in an electrical circuit?

  Radio waves
• How can radio waves create an alternating current in a circuit?

  They induce oscillations at the same frequency
• Where do gamma rays originate from?

  Changes in the nuclei of atoms
• What health effects can ultraviolet waves cause?

  They can cause skin to age prematurely
• What is another health risk associated with ultraviolet waves?

  Increased risk of developing skin cancer
• What health effects can X-rays and gamma rays cause?

  They can cause mutations in genes
• What is another health risk associated with X-rays and gamma rays?

  Increased risk of developing various cancers
• Give three practical uses for infrared radiation.

  1. Electrical heaters
  2. Cooking food
  3. Infrared cameras
• Give two practical uses for microwave radiation.

  1. Satellite communications
  2. Cooking food
• Give two practical uses for radio waves.

  1. Television transmission
  2. Radio transmission
• What wave phenomenon is used by lenses to form an image?

  Refraction