Physics Review - WAVES
I. MATCHING:
__i_
1.
the low point of a transverse wave
__a_ 2.
distance from the top of a crest to the equilibrium position
__c_
3.
waves that can travel through empty space
__e_
4.
unit for measuring frequency
__m_ 5.
a traveling wave which causes matter to move at right angles
to the direction of the wave
__l_
6.
the distance a wave travels during one complete vibration
__b_ 7.
a wave that causes matter to move back and forth parallel to
the direction of the wave
__g_ 8.
the bouncing back of a wave from a surface
__d_ 9.
the number of waves that pass a certain point each second
__f_
10.
the result of waves moving through each other
__k_
11.
the time is takes for one complete vibration
__h_ 12.
the material through which a wave travels
a. amplitude
b. longitudinal
c. electromagnetic
d. frequency
e. hertz
f. interference
g. reflection
h. medium
i. trough
j. compression
k. period
l. wavelength
m. transverse
II. FILL IN THE BLANK:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
A wave transfers ____energy_____ from one place to another.
A wave with a great amount of energy has a large _____amplitude __________.
Two waves travel through the same medium. They must have the same __velocity____. If the
wavelength of a wave “A” is four times that of wave “B”, then the frequency of “A” is ___1/4___
that of “B”.
Surface water waves are (transverse, longitudinal) and (electromagnetic, mechanical).
Radio waves are (electromagnetic, mechanical) because they do not need a medium.
Refraction occurs because the new medium changes the wave’s velocity.
The angles at which a wave hits and reflects from a boundary are always equal.
Sound waves bend around a corner because their wavelength is large compared to the size of the
opening. This spreading is called diffraction.
In an interference pattern, points of total destructive interference are called nodes and points of
total constructive interference are called antinodes.
Damping is the decrease in the amplitude of the wave due to energy lost in overcoming friction and
due to the spreading out of the wave front.
The frequency of a pendulum is affected by its length, not by its mass or amplitude.
Waves travel slower in shallow water than in deep. When waves enter the shallow water they
refract, or bend (away from, toward) the normal line drawn between the two levels of water.
You stand in the back left corner of a racquetball court and hit the ball to the middle of the
front wall. Your opponent should stand in the back right corner to return the ball.
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Unit 11
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14.
15.
16.
Waves reflected from a flexible boundary are (erect, inverted).
When a wave reaches a new medium which is very different from the old, most of the wave will be
reflected and a little will be transmitted.
When a wave passes into a new medium, its (f,  ,v) does not change, but its
(f,  ,v) and (f,  ,v) do change.
III. PROBLEMS:
1.
The speed of sound in air is 346 m/s. A sound wave has a frequency of 750 Hz. What is its
wavelength?
λ=
v 346
=
f
750
T=
1
1
=
f
750
m
s
1
s
= 0.46 m
What is its period?
2.
1
s
= 0.0013 s
It is observed that 15 waves hit the shore every 10 minutes. The distance between successive
crests is 3.2 m.
a. What is the frequency of the waves in Hz?
f=
15 waves
= 0.025 Hz
10 min × 1 60mins
b. What is the velocity of the waves?
v = fλ = 0.025
3.
1
s
× 3.2 m = 0.080
m
s
In figure A, draw the reflected wave, label angles, and draw wave fronts. In figure B, draw the
refracted waves, label angles, and draw wave fronts.
A.
B.
B.
fast
r i
N
i
r
N
slow
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Unit 11
All Rights Reserved, GPTC 2003
35