Wave Characteristics

Questions and Answers

What is the frequency of a wave?

The number of completed wave cycles in a given period of time.

Which of the following types of waves has a higher frequency?

Violet light wave

What is the relation between the frequency of light and its color?

Higher frequency corresponds to shorter wavelengths.

How do high-frequency photons of light behave?

They have higher oscillation energies. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic that all waves can be described and measured by?

Amplitude, frequency, wavelength, speed, and period Signup and view all the answers

What is the correlation between frequency and wavelength of a wave?

Higher frequency, shorter wavelength Signup and view all the answers

What is the unit of measurement for frequency?

Hertz Signup and view all the answers

What is the period of a wave?

The amount of time it takes a single wave cycle to come to completion Signup and view all the answers

What does amplitude measure in a wave?

The amount of energy carried by a single wave cycle Signup and view all the answers

What is the formula to find the frequency of a wave?

f = 1 / T Signup and view all the answers

What unit is used to describe the amplitude of electromagnetic waves?

Volts per meter (v/m) Signup and view all the answers

How is the amplitude of a simple sine or transverse wave measured?

By measuring the distance between a middle line cutting horizontally through the cycles of waves and the crest or trough of the wave Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between amplitude and frequency?

Amplitude is not correlated with frequency Signup and view all the answers

What does the frequency of visible light describe?

The color of the light Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the amplitude of sound waves when the volume is increased?

The amplitude increases Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wave Characteristics

Waves exist in various forms in the universe, with different patterns and mechanisms of propagation.
A wave is a propagating and oscillating deformation of some quanta or medium.
Waves can be classified into different types, such as water waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves like light.

Frequency of a Wave

Frequency is the number of completed wave cycles in a given period of time.
It is measured in hertz (Hz), with 1 Hz equal to 1 wave per second.
Higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths, while lower frequency waves have longer wavelengths.
Frequency is correlated with energy, where higher frequencies have higher energies.
Examples of frequency in action include color in light waves and pitch in sound waves.

Period of a Wave

The period of a wave is the time it takes for a single wave cycle to complete.
It is inversely correlated with frequency, where period = 1/frequency.
Period is a measure of the time it takes for a wave to pass a given point completely.

Amplitude of a Wave

Amplitude is the distance between the medium at rest and the crest or trough of a wave.
It measures the amount of energy carried by a single wave cycle.
Amplitude is represented by the symbol A and has units dependent on the type of wave.
In transverse waves, amplitude is measured in units of distance, while in longitudinal waves, it is measured in units of pressure.

Measuring Amplitude

Amplitude can be measured by finding the distance between the middle line of a wave and the crest or trough.
Special equipment is needed to measure the intensity of pressure waves or the brightness of electromagnetic waves.

Amplitude vs Frequency

Amplitude and frequency are not correlated, and two waves can have the same frequency but different amplitudes.
Examples of amplitude vs frequency include the brightness and color of light, and the loudness and pitch of sound waves.