29 Waves-Wave Characteristics
29 Waves-Wave Characteristics
29 Waves-Wave Characteristics
Waves-Wave Characteristics
1. What is the wavelength of a 256-hertz sound wave 6. The diagram below represents a periodic wave.
in air at STP?
1. 1.17 × 106 m
2. 1.29 m
3. 0.773 m
4. 8.53 × 10-7 m
2. The graph below represents the relationship be- Which point on the wave is in phase with point P?
tween wavelength and frequency of waves created 1. A
by two students shaking the ends of a loose spring. 2. B
3. C
4. D
Waves-Wave Characteristics
10. The diagram below represents a periodic transverse wave traveling in a uniform medium.
On the diagram above, draw a wave having both a smaller amplitude and the same wavelength as the given wave.
Base your answers to questions 11 through 13 on the information and diagram below.
A longitudinal wave moves to the right through a uniform medium, as shown below. Points A, B, C, D, and E repre-
sent the positions of particles of the medium.
11. Which diagram best represents the motion of the particle at position C as the wave moves to the right?
12. The wavelength of this wave is equal to the distance between points
1. A and B
2. B and C
3. A and C
4. B and E
Waves-Wave Characteristics
14. Which wave diagram has both wavelength (λ) and amplitude (A) labeled correctly?
15. The diagram below represents a transverse wave moving on a uniform rope with point A labeled as
shown. On the diagram, mark an X at the point on the wave that is 180° out of phase with point A.
Base your answers to questions 16 through 18 on the information and diagram below.
Three waves, A, B, and C, travel 12 meters in 2.0 seconds through the same medium as shown in the diagram below.
Waves-Wave Characteristics
Base your answers to questions 19 through 21 on the information below. [Show all work, including the
equation and substitution with units.]
A stationary submarine uses sonar to send a 1.18 × 103-hertz sound wave down through the
ocean water. The reflected sound wave from the flat ocean bottom 324 meters below the sub
is detected 0.425 seconds after it was sent from the submarine.
19. Calculate the speed of the sound wave in the ocean water.
20. Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave in the ocean water.
21. Determine the period of the sound wave in the ocean water.
22. A motor is used to produce 4.0 waves each second in The amplitude of the wave is
a string. What is the frequency of the waves? 1. 4.0 s
1. 0.25 Hz 2. 6.0 s
2. 15 Hz 3. 8 cm
3. 25 Hz 4. 4 cm
4. 4.0 Hz
26. A periodic wave is produced by a vibrating tuning
23. If the amplitude of a wave is increased, the frequency fork. The amplitude of the wave would be greater if
of the wave will the tuning fork were
1. decrease 1. struck more softly
2. increase 2. struck harder
3. remain the same 3. replaced by a lower frequency tuning fork
4. replaced by a higher frequency tuning fork
24. The time required for a wave to complete one full
cycle is called the wave’s 27. The diagram below represents a periodic wave.
1. frequency
2. period
3. velocity
4. wavelength
Waves-Wave Characteristics
28. A periodic wave travels at speed v through medium A. The wave passes with all its energy into medium B. The
speed of the wave through medium B is v/2. On the diagram below, draw the wave as it travels through medium
B. Show at least one full wave.
29. The energy of a water wave is closely related to its 33. The energy of a sound wave is closely related to its
1. frequency 1. period
2. wavelength 2. amplitude
3. period 3. frequency
4. amplitude 4. wavelength
30. The diagram below represents a transverse wave. 34. The diagram below shows a periodic wave.
Waves-Wave Characteristics
Base your answers to questions 37 and 38 on the information and diagram below.
A student standing on a dock observes a piece of wood floating on the water as shown below. As a water wave
passes, the wood moves up and down, rising to the top of a wave crest every 5.0 seconds.
37. Calculate the frequency of the passing water waves. [Show all work, including the equation and substitution
with units.]
38. Calculate the speed of the water waves. [Show all work, including the equation and substitution with units.]
39. The diagram below represents a periodic 41. A surfacing whale in an aquarium produces water
wave traveling through a uniform medium. wave crests every 0.40 seconds. If the water wave
travels at 4.5 meters per second, the wavelength of
the wave is
1. 1.8 m
2. 2.4 m
3. 3.0 m
If the frequency of the wave is 2.0 hertz, the speed of 4. 11 m
the wave is
1. 6.0 m/s 42. The diagram below represents a trans-
2. 2.0 m/s verse wave moving along a string.
3. 8.0 m/s
4. 4.0 m/s
Waves-Wave Characteristics
Base your answers to questions 44 and 45 on the 48. A tuning fork vibrates at a frequency of 512 hertz
information below. when struck with a rubber hammer. The sound
produced by the tuning fork will travel through the
A student plucks a guitar string and the air as a
vibrations produce a sound wave with a fre- 1. longitudinal wave with air molecules vibrating
quency of 650 hertz. parallel to the direction of travel
2. transverse wave with air molecules vibrating
44. The sound wave produced can best be parallel to the direction of travel
described as a 3. longitudinal wave with air molecules vibrating
1. transverse wave of constant amplitude perpendicular to the direction of travel
2. longitudinal wave of constant frequency 4. transverse wave with air molecules vibrating
3. mechanical wave of varying frequency perpendicular to the direction of travel
4. electromagnetic wave of varying wavelengths
49. What is characteristic of both sound waves and elec-
45. Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave in air tromagnetic waves?
at STP. [Show all work, including the equation and 1. They require a medium.
substitution with units.] 2. They transfer energy.
3. They are mechanical waves.
4. They are longitudinal waves.
Waves-Wave Characteristics
53. The diagram below represents a periodic wave. 58. The diagram below represents two waves, A and
B, traveling through the same uniform medium.
Waves-Wave Characteristics
62. Which two points on the wave shown in the
diagram below are in phase with each other?
1. A and B
2. A and E
3. B and C
4. B and D