Waves+Study+Guide

Waves Study Guide

What is a wave? What causes a wave? What is a vibration? How does a wave transfer energy without moving matter? What are the four main types of waves, and how do they differ? What happens to a sound wave if there is not medium for it to travel through? What is a surface wave? How do the particles of matter travel in a surface wave? Identify and describe the four properties of waves. What is the resting position of a wave? Draw a transverse wave and label how the amplitude and wavelength are measured. Identify a crest and a trough. Explain how frequency and wavelength are related to the speed of a wave. What unit is used to describe the frequency of a wave? What does this tell you about the wave? Describe how amplitude and energy are related. Describe how frequency and energy are related. What is the equation for wave speed? Be able to calculate wave speed, frequency, and amplitude. Explain the relationship between a medium and wave speed. What causes a pencil placed in a glass of water appear to be broken. EXPLAIN. Explain why you see a rainbow when sunlight passes through droplets of water. Describe the difference between refraction and diffraction. Explain the relationship between the amount of diffraction and the size of the barrier or opening the wave encounters. Explain why you can hear two people talking even after they walk around a corner. Compare destructive and constructive interference. What causes a standing wave? How does a marimba work? Sometimes when music is played loudly, you can feel your body shake. Explain what is happening in terms of resonance.