General properties of waves: Practice Questions

Which property of a wave is defined as the maximum displacement of particles from their equilibrium position?

A sound wave travels through steel at a speed of \(5200 \text{ m/s}\). If the frequency of the wave is \(26 \text{ kHz}\), what is its wavelength in centimeters?

A person standing in a hallway can hear a conversation taking place in a room around a corner, even though they cannot see the people speaking. The doorway between the room and the hallway is \(0.9 \text{ m}\) wide.

Which statement best explains this observation in terms of wave properties?<∕>p>

A wave has a frequency of \(10 \text{ Hz}\) and a wavelength of \(0.5 \text{ m}\). What is the speed of the wave?

Plane water waves travel across the surface of a ripple tank from a region of deep water into a region of shallow water. The angle of incidence is \(0^∘\).

How do the frequency, speed, and wavelength of the waves change as they enter the shallow water?<∕>p>

Describe the relationship between the direction of vibration of particles and the direction of energy propagation for a longitudinal wave.

A dipper in a ripple tank vibrates with a period of \(0.050\text{ s}\). The generated plane water waves travel a distance of \(72\text{ cm}\) in \(3.0\text{ s}\). Calculate the wavelength of the water waves.

A continuous wave has an amplitude of \(15 \text{ cm}\) and completes \(120\) full oscillations in one minute. If the wave speed is \(3.0 \text{ m/s}\), determine the wavelength of the wave.

(a) State the difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave in terms of the direction of particle oscillation relative to the direction of wave travel.

(b) State one example of a transverse wave and one example of a longitudinal wave.

(c) A water wave has a wavelength of \(0.040\text{ m}\) and travels at a speed of \(0.12\text{ m/s}\). Calculate the frequency of the wave.

A continuous wave is generated in a ripple tank. The frequency of the vibrator producing the waves is \(4.0 \text{ Hz}\). A student measures the distance across ten consecutive wavefronts and finds it to be \(88 \text{ cm}\).

(a) Calculate the wavelength \(\lambda\) of the waves, expressing your answer in metres.

(b) Calculate the speed \(v\) of the waves.

(c) The waves then pass through a narrow gap in a barrier. Describe how the diffraction pattern changes if the frequency of the wave source is increased while the gap size remains constant. Assume the wave speed does not change.