Waves unit worksheet
Learning Goals:
I understand the different types of waves
I understand what determines the amount of energy a wave carries
I can calculate wave speed, wavelength, period & frequency
I understand the properties of waves
1. A saxophone emits frequencies that range from a low of about 233 Hz to a high of about 739 Hz. Find
the range of wavelengths in air attained by this instrument when the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s.
(1.46 m to 0.46 m)
2. The speed of all electromagnetic waves in empty space is 3.00 x 108 m/s. Calculate the wavelengths
of electromagnetic waves emitted at the following frequencies:
a) Radio waves at 88.0 MHz (3.41 m)
b) Visible light at 6.0x108 MHz (5.0 x 10-7 m)
c) X-rays at 3.0x1012 MHz (1.0 x 10-10 m)
3. The red light emitted by a He-Ne laser has a wavelength of 633 nm in air and travels at 3.00 x 108
m/s. Find the frequency of the laser light. (474 THz)
4. A tuning fork produces a sound with a frequency of 256 Hz and a wavelength in air of 1.35 m.
a) What value does this give for the speed of sound in air? (346 m/s)
b) What would be the wavelength for the wave produced by this tuning fork in water in which
sound travels at 1500 m/s? (5.9 m)
5. The radio stations you listen to correspond to a frequency that they are allowed to broadcast across.
Therefore the classic rock station in Cambridge, Oh (92.1) is broadcasting at a frequency of 92.1 MHz. If
the speed of this wave is 3.00 x 108 m/s, what is the wavelength of this stations broadcast wave? (3.26
m)
6. Bats can detect small objects, such as insects, that are approximately the size of one wavelength. If a
bat emits a chirp at a frequency of 60.0 kHz and the speed of sound waves in air is 330 m/s, what is the
size of the smallest insect that the bat can detect? (5.5 mm)
7. Microwaves travel at the speed of light, 3.00 x 108 m/s. When the frequency of microwaves is 9.00 x
109 Hz, what is their wavelength? (3.33 cm)
8. Green light has a wavelength of 520 nm and travels through the air at a speed of 3.00 x 108 m/s.
Calculate the frequency and the period of green light waves with this wavelength. (577 THz, 1.73 x 10-15
s)
9. The notes produced by a violin ranges in frequency from approximately 196 Hz to 2637 Hz. Find the
possible range of wavelengths in air produced by this instrument when the speed of sound in air is 340
m/s. (1.7 m to 0.13 m)
Answers for 10 - 15 can be found on my website
10. If you are standing on the side of a road, how can you tell if a police car with its siren on is coming
toward you or away from you?
11. Classify these waves as mechanical or non-mechanical:
a. sound waves
b. red light
c. infrared light
d. vibrating violin string
e. ripples on a pond after a stone has been thrown in
12. Why can FM radio waves travel farther than AM radio waves?
13. How long does it take a wave to travel one of its wavelengths?
14. If the amplitude of a sound wave increased by a factor of 3, how does the energy carried by the
sound wave in a given time interval change?
15. Why is it that a sine or cosine graph be used to describe either a transverse or longitudinal wave?