9 PS Wave Properties
Name: ___________________
Cycle: __________________________________________
________________________________________________
Period: _________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Frequency: ______________________________________
________________________________________________
Wavelength: _____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Position - Time Graph
_____________
p
o
s
i
t
i
o
n
1
0
2
3
0.5
4
5
1.0
4
3
2
1
2
3
1.5
2
2.5
Time (seconds) OR Length (cm)
4
5
3.0
4
3
3.5
In addition to knowing the basic definition of each of the above terms it is equally important to be
able to recognize or calculate each.
Period: ______________________________________________________________________________
Frequency: ___________________________________________________________________________
Wavelength: __________________________________________________________________________
Speed: _______________________________________________________________________________
Identify the following on the graph to the right:
Crest: __________________________________
Trough: ________________________________
Equlibrium: ____________________________
Amplitude: _____________________________
Wavelength: ____________________________
Medium: _______________________________
2
1
4
Period and Frequency
Solve the following problems - use 3 step math.
1. A dog's tail wags 50.0 times in 40 seconds.
a. what is the frequency?
b. the period?
2. A computer screen refreshes 150 times in 2 seconds.
a. what is the frequency?
b. the period?
3. Tarzan is swinging back and forth on a vine. Each complete swing takes 4.0 seconds.
a. what is the period?
b. the frequency?
4. A certain tuning fork makes 7,680 vibrations in 30 seconds.
a. what is the frequency?
b. the period?
Complete each sentence by circling the correct answers and crossing out the incorrect answer.
1. The amplitude of a wave can be measured from the (medium, crest) or the (trough, wavelength) to
the equilibrium (rest position) of the wave’s medium.
2. Waves with greater amplitudes carry (more, less) energy than waves with smaller amplitudes.
3. The wavelength of a transverse wave is often measured from (crest to crest, crest to trough).
4. The number of waves that pass a point in one (second, minute) is the wave’s (amplitude, frequency).
5. Waves with longer wavelengths have a (lower, higher) frequency and waves with shorter wavelengths
have a (lower, higher) frequency.
Label the appropriate parts of the diagram below. Be careful - not all letters can be identified with a
term.
F