Physics 19, 20, 21 Clicker set 1
A wave has a wave speed of 4 m/s at a frequency of 10 Hz. What is the wave period? A. 0.1 s B. 0.25 s C. 0.4 s D. 2.5 s E. 40 s
0.1 s . The wave period = 1/frequency. 1/10 Hz = 0.1 seconds.
A wave travels an average distance of 6 meters in 2 seconds. What is the wave's velocity? A. 1/3 m/s B. 3 m/s C. 6 m/s D. 12 m/s E. None of these.
6 meters/2 seconds = 3m/s
A wave travels an average distance of 1 meter in 1 second with a frequency of 1 Hertz. Its amplitude is: A. less than 1 meter. B. 1 meter. C. more than 1 meter. D. Not enough information to say.
Not enough information to say. Amplitude is measured in the amount of force applied over an area. The most common unit of measurement of force applied to an area for acoustic study is the Newtons per square meter (N/m2)
Suppose an earthquake happens in Japan, emitting both P-waves (8 km/s) and S-waves (4 km/s). Which of these waves are detected in California first? A. The P-waves B. The S-waves C. They are detected simultaneously. D. More information is needed
P-waves. Earthquakes emit both pressure and shear waves (known as P and S waves); P waves travel faster through the Earth than S waves.
Which of the following does not constitute a wave? A. ripples on a pond B. the beam from a flashlight C. music from a loudspeaker D. a politician waving her hand E. amber waves of grain
a politician waving her hand. That is an oscillation!
Unlike a transverse wave, a longitudinal wave has: A. no amplitude. B. no frequency. C. no wavelength. D. no speed. E. A longitudinal wave has all of these.
actually, longitudinal waves DO have amplitude, frequency, wavelength, and speed.
The vibrations of a longitudinal wave move in a direction: A. along the direction of wave travel. B. at right angles to the direction of wave travel. C. Both of these. D. Neither of these.
along the direction of wave travel. Think of pulling and pushing on a slinky!
The vibrations of a transverse wave move in a direction: A. along the direction of wave travel. B. at right angles to the direction of wave travel. C. Both of these. D. Neither of these.
at right angles to the direction of wave travel. Think of a vibrating rubber tube as you jostle it up and down.
To say that one wave is out of phase with another is to say that the waves are: A. of different amplitudes. B. of different frequencies. C. of different wavelengths. D. out of step. E. All of these.
out of step.