Waves

Waves for GCSE

What are the two primary types of waves?

Transverse Waves and Longitudinal Waves.

What characterizes a transverse wave?

The oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

What is a longitudinal wave?

A wave where the oscillation occurs in the same direction as the wave travel.

What is a wave?

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another without permanently displacing the medium.

What does wavelength (λ) measure?

The distance between identical points on consecutive waves.

What is amplitude (A)?

The maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position.

How is frequency (f) defined?

The number of complete oscillations per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

What is the speed of sound in air?

Approximately 330 m/s.

What happens to sound waves as they travel through different mediums?

Sound travels fastest in solids and slowest in gases due to the closeness of particles.

What is the fundamental equation relating wave speed, frequency, and wavelength?

v = f x λ.

What are radio waves primarily used for?

TV and radio communication.

What are the dangers associated with ultraviolet waves?

Excessive exposure can lead to skin cancer.

How does the amplitude of sound relate to its loudness?

Higher amplitude corresponds to greater loudness, measured in decibels (dB).

What is the human hearing range in terms of frequency?

20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

What type of wave is sound classified as?

Sound is classified as a longitudinal wave.

What characterizes seismic waves?

Produced by earthquakes, including P-waves (longitudinal) and S-waves (transverse).

What role does an oscilloscope play in sound wave experiments?

It visualizes sound waves to help measure wave speed.

What is the displacement of a wave?

The vertical distance from the equilibrium position to the crest or trough.

What type of waves are visible light?

Transverse waves that can travel through a vacuum.

What are gamma rays used for and what are their dangers?

Used in sterilization processes; can pose serious health risks such as cancer.

Define frequency in the context of waves.

The number of complete oscillations per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Explain the difference between sound waves in air and sound waves in solids.

Sound travels faster in solids due to tightly packed particles facilitating vibration transfer.

What is the time period (T) for waves?

The time taken for one complete oscillation, measured in seconds.

How do microwaves affect food?

They are used for heating food, but prolonged exposure can cause internal heating.