P4 - Waves

• What do waves transfer?

  energy
• What is the distance between two peaks of a wave called?

  wavelength
• What is the number of waves per second called?

  frequency
• What is the maximum distance between the equilibrium line and the wave called?

  amplitude
• What type of wave is a sound wave?

  longitudal
• What type of wave is a light wave?

  transverse
• Give two equations for wave speed

  Wave speed = frequency x wavelength

  Wave speed = distance / time
• How can you measure the velocity of sound in air?

  Measure the distance you are aware from an object making a sound. Record the time taken for the sound to reach you. Speed = distance / time
• Should you use large or small distances when measuring the velocity of sound in air? Why?

  Large distances to reduce the significance/impact of the reaction time.
• How can you measure the speed of ripples on water surfaces?

  Drop an object into the water. Time how long it takes one ripple/wavefront to travel a certain distance.
• When waves are refracted what two properties are changed?

  Direction and speed
• When a wave slows down, which way does it refract?

  Towards the normal
• When a wave speeds up, which way does it refract?

  Away from the normal
• What can affect how much a wave is refracted?

  Wavelength
• How does wavelength affect the amount of refraction?

  Short wavelengths are refracted more
• Give an improvement to a method of a student using a ripple tank and measuring the wavelength of one wave.

  Measure across more than one wavelength and divide by the number of wavelengths.
• How can you measure the frequency of water waves?

  Count the number of waves passing a point in a specific time. Use: frequency = number of waves / time.
• Describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves

  Transverse: oscillations are perpendicular to direction of wave travel.

  Longitudinal: oscillations are in the same direction as wave travel