Wave Quest review questions
1. Label the diagram below with the correct terms for the parts of the wave.
2. Define wave amplitude.
3. Define frequency.
4. Define wavelength.
5. What are the units for frequency?
6. What are the units for wavelength?
7. What is the wave equation?
8. What stays constant for a wave in a medium?
9. Oscillations measured per second, is the _______________.
10. Explain the differences between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
11. Explain the difference between a mechanical wave and an electromagnetic wave.
Give an example of each one.
12. What type of wave is sound?
13. How does a drum create sound when the top of it is hit?
14. Define diffraction.
15. Define refraction.
16. Define reflection.
17. A light ray hits a mirror at an angle to the surface, in what direction will the light
ray reflect?
18. Explain the difference between constructive and destructive interference.
19. What happens when the crest of two waves occupy the same point in space at the
same time?
20. Explain the Doppler Effect?
21. Complete the following diagram.
22. Complete the following diagram.
23. Using the principle of superposition, what will the wave look like when Point A
on both waves meet at Point B the same time.
A
B
A
24. What will happen to the path of the waves below as they travel from air into
water? Do the waves speed up or slow down? Complete the diagram.
Water
Air
25. A wave on the lake has a wavelength of 2.00 m and has a frequency of 25 Hz.
What is the speed of the wave?
26. On the Salt Flats in Utah, the accepted speed of sound is about 343 m/s at 10:00
A.M. Find the wavelength of a sound wave with a frequency of 100 Hz.
27. A fire truck has a horn with a frequency of 500 Hz. It is moving straight toward
you. What is the frequency that you hear in comparison to the actual frequency of the
horn?
28. If a mosquito misses and flies by your ear, what happens to the frequency of the
sound as it flies away from you?