Practice - Wave Model
Practice Questions
Test your understanding with targeted questions
A wave has a frequency of 50 Hz. What is its Period (T)?
- Answer: seconds.
- Hint: Period and Frequency are mathematical inverses.
💡 Hint: Period and Frequency are mathematical inverses.
Define the difference between a Compression and a Rarefaction in a longitudinal wave.
- Answer: A Compression is a region where the particles are crowded together (high pressure), while a Rarefaction is a region where the particles are spread apart (low pressure).
- Hint: Think of a Slinky being pushed and pulled.
💡 Hint: Think of a Slinky being pushed and pulled.
4 more questions available
Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
Which of the following is an example of a wave that can travel through a vacuum?
- Type: MCQ
- Options: Sound Waves, Ocean Waves, Radio Waves, Seismic Waves
- Correct Answer: Radio Waves
- Explanation: Radio waves are electromagnetic waves, which consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and do not require a physical medium.
- Hint: All light is electromagnetic.
💡 Hint: All light is electromagnetic.
The amplitude of a wave is measured from the crest to the trough.
- Type: Boolean
- Options: True, False
- Correct Answer: False
- Explanation: Amplitude is the maximum displacement from the rest position (the center line) to either the crest or the trough.
- Hint: It is half the total height of the wave.
💡 Hint: It is half the total height of the wave.
1 more question available
Challenge Problems
Push your limits with advanced challenges
The Wave Architect: You are designing a soundproofing system. You know that sound (a longitudinal wave) travels faster in solids than in gases. Using the wave equation , explain why a sound wave entering a solid wall from the air will see its wavelength increase if the frequency stays the same.
- Solution: Since , and frequency () is determined by the source and remains constant when crossing boundaries, if the speed () increases in the solid, the wavelength () must increase proportionally to maintain the equality.
- Hint: Keep constant and see what happens to as goes up.
💡 Hint: Keep constant and see what happens to as goes up.
The Vacuum Mystery: Why is the "Big Bang" or a supernova in deep space technically silent, even though it is the most violent event imaginable?
- Solution: Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium (particles) to pass energy from one to the next through compressions and rarefactions. Since space is a vacuum, there are no particles to oscillate, and therefore the energy of the explosion cannot travel as a sound wave.
- Hint: Remember the requirements for Mechanical Waves vs. Electromagnetic Waves.
[Image showing the electromagnetic spectrum and the variety of wave types]
💡 Hint: Remember the requirements for Mechanical Waves vs. Electromagnetic Waves. [Image showing the electromagnetic spectrum and the variety of wave types]
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Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.