IPC Ch.12

What are the amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and speed of a wave?

Amplitude describes how far the medium in a wave moves. Wavelength describes a wave's length, and frequency describes how often it occurs. Speed describes how quickly a wave moves.

Name four properties of a wave. Tell what each property describes.

Amplitude- distance the medium vibrates from the rest position; Wavelength- distance between two corresponding parts of a wave; Frequency- number of waves that pass a point in a certain number of time; Speed- how far the wave travels in a given amount of time

How do standing waves form?

If the incoming wave and reflected wave have just the right frequency, they combine to form a wave that appears to stand still. This wave is called a standing wave.

What forms mechanical waves?

Mechanical waves form when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate.

How are three of the properties of a wave related?

Speed, wavelength, and frequency are related by a mathematical formula. Speed= Wavelength x Frequency

How are frequency, wavelength, and speed related?

The speed, wavelength, and frequency of a wave are related by a mathematical formula. Speed=Wavelength x Frequency

What are the types of mechanical waves?

The three types of mechanical waves are transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves.

What are the two types of wave interference?

There are two types of interference: constructive and destructive.

__ travel out in all directions.

Waves

What changes the direction of a wave?

Waves change direction by reflection, refraction, and diffraction.

The less energy a wave has, the smaller its

amplitude

the maximum distance the particles of a medium move away from their rest positions as a longitudinal wave passes through the medium

amplitude

a point of maximum amplitude on a standing wave

antinode

Points of maximum amplitude on a standing wave are called

antinodes

Radio waves bounce off the __ back to the Earth.

atmosphere

A wave __ and spreads out in diffraction.

bends

Refraction occurs when a wave

bends due to a change in speed

High frequency waves are __ __.

close together

the part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together

compression

In longitudinal waves in a spring, the parts where the coils are close together are called

compressions

Interference in which waves combine to form a wave with a larger amplitude than either wave originally had is called

constructive interference

the interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with an amplitude larger than the amplitude of either of the individual waves

constructive interference

The highest parts of a transverse wave are called

crests

When the crest of one wave overlaps the trough of another wave, __ can occur.

destructive interference

the interference that occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with an amplitude smaller than the amplitude of either of the individual waves

destructive interference

the bending or spreading of waves as they move around a barrier or pass through an opening

diffraction

Waves from __ can travel through the earth or along the earth's surface.

earthquakes

Waves carry __.

energy

the ability to do work or cause change

energy

All waves have wavelength, frequency, REST POINT, and speed.

false, amplitude

The height of a wave's WAVELENGTH depends on its amplitude.

false, crest

CONSTRUCTIVE interference is used in some headphones to block out distracting noises in a listener's surroundings.

false, destructive

If an incoming wave and reflected wave have A HIGH-PITCHED frequency, they combine to form a standing wave.

false, just the right or natural

A SURFACE wave moves the medium in the same direction as the wave travels.

false, longitudinal

The amplitude of a TRANSVERSE wave is a measure of how compressed or rarefied the medium becomes.

false, longitudinal

The three types of mechanical waves are transverse waves, LATITUDINAL waves, and surface waves.

false, longitudinal

The speed, wavelength, and frequency of a wave are related by a SCIENTIFIC THEORY.

false, mathematical formula

Waves change direction by diffraction, reflection, and DEFLECTION.

false, refraction

A transverse wave moves a medium at an OBTUSE angle to the wave.

false, right

The FREQUENCY of a wave remains constant if the medium, temperature, and pressure do not change.

false, speed

Mechanical waves form when a source of energy causes a medium to COMPRESS.

false, vibrate

How often a wave occurs is the wave's

frequency

X-rays are like light waves but have higher __ and can pass through materials.

frequency

the number of complete waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time

frequency

(Hz) unit of measurement for frequency

hertz

Frequency is measured in units called

hertz

On a pipe organ, a short pipe makes a __ note with short waves.

high

Reflection occurs when a wave

hits a surface and bounces back

the interaction between waves that meet

interference

A standing wave is actually two waves __ as they pass through each other.

interfering

a wave that requires a medium through which to travel

mechanical wave

What happens when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate?

mechanical waves are formed

the material through which a wave travels

medium

a point of zero amplitude on a standing wave

node

Destructive interference in a standing wave produces points with zero amplitude called __.

nodes

the part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are far apart

rarefaction

In longitudinal waves in a spring, the parts where the coils are spread out are called

rarefactions

the bouncing back of an object or a wave when it hits a surface through which it cannot pass

reflection

the bending of waves as they enter a new medium at an angle, caused by a change in speed

refraction

What happens to the speed of a wave if the medium, temperature, and pressure do not change?

remains constant

the increase in the amplitude of a vibration that occurs when external vibrations match an object's natural frequency

resonance

Waves do not bend when entering a new medium at a __ angle.

right

Waves keep their __ even when they bounce off something.

shape

The shape of waves is __.

similar

A wave refracts because one side of the wave changes __ before the other side.

speed

Waves sometimes travel by squeezing together and __ apart.

spreading

a wave that appears to stand in one place, even though it is two waves interfering as they pass through each other

standing wave

a wave that moves the medium at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels

transverse wave

The lowest parts of a transverse wave are called

troughs

Dividing the DISTANCE a wave travels by the time it takes to travel that distance gives you the wave's speed.

true

Each particles of water in an ocean wave moves in a CIRCLE.

true

Waves that can travel with or without a medium are called MECHANICAL waves.

true (false, electromagnetic)

a repeated back-and-forth or up-and-down motion

vibration

a disturbance that transfers energy from place to place, the movement of energy through a body of water

wave

The distance between two corresponding parts of a wave is its

wavelength

The distance from the top of one wave to the top of the next wave is the __.

wavelength

the distance between two corresponding parts of a wave, such as the distance between two crests

wavelength