Mechanical Waves Quiz

Mechanical waves are produced when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate.

Vibration is a repeated back-and-forth or up-and-down motion.

Mechanical waves are classified by how they move; there are two types of mechanical waves: transverse waves and longitudinal waves.

<p>Transverse waves are waves that move the medium at right angles to the direction in which the waves travel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The crest is the high point of a transverse wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The trough is the lowest point of a transverse wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Longitudinal waves move the medium parallel to the direction in which the waves travel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Compression is when things are close together.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rarefaction is when things are spread out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Amplitude is the maximum distance that the particles of the medium carrying the wave move away from their rest positions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The wavelength is the distance between two corresponding parts of a wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Frequency is the number of completed waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hertz is the SI unit for frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Speed = Wavelength x Frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Frequency = Speed/Wavelength and Wavelength = Speed/Frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reflection occurs when an object or a wave hits a surface through which it cannot pass, causing it to bounce back.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Refraction occurs when a wave enters a new medium at an angle, causing the wave to bend.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Diffraction occurs when a wave moves around a barrier or through an opening in a barrier, causing it to bend and spread out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interference is the interaction between waves that meet; there are two types: constructive and destructive interference.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Constructive interference occurs when waves combine to make a wave with a larger amplitude.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Destructive interference occurs when two waves combine to make a wave with a smaller amplitude.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A standing wave is produced when the incoming wave and a reflected wave have just the right frequency, making it appear to stand still.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nodes are points of zero amplitude on a standing wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Antinodes are the points of maximum amplitudes on a standing wave.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Resonance is an increase in the amplitude of a vibration that occurs when external vibrations match an object's natural frequency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A disturbance that transfers energy from place to place.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mechanical waves are created when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mechanical waves are classified according to how they move.</p> Signup and view all the answers