Wave Properties Quiz: Test Your Understanding of Waves

Which of the following is the LEAST dense part of a wave?

Increasing the amplitude of a wave means increasing the $____________$ of the wave.

The wavelength of a sound wave is 20m and the frequency is 5 Hz. What is the wave speed?

Which of the following is NOT a mechanical wave?

What is the amplitude of a wave?

In a longitudinal wave, the parts where the coils are close together are called what?

What is a characteristic of transverse waves?

Which type of wave does not require a medium to travel?

What is the highest point of a transverse wave called?

Which statement about mechanical waves is true?

How are surface waves different from transverse and longitudinal waves?

What is the unit for wavelength?

What does a wave carry from place to place?

If the wavelength of a wave increased, what would happen to the frequency?

What type of wave can travel through matter and empty space?

Which one of these represents the highest frequency transverse wave?

How is wave speed calculated?

Waves and Wave Properties

A wave is a rhythmic disturbance that transmits energy through matter or space.
Waves carry energy, not matter.
A wave exists as long as it has energy to carry.

Types of Waves

There are two types of mechanical waves: transverse and compressional (or longitudinal) waves.

Transverse Waves

In a transverse wave, the medium (material) moves back and forth at right angles to the direction the wave travels.
Examples: Water waves, Light waves

Compressional (Longitudinal) Waves

In compression waves, matter in the medium moves back and forth in the same direction that the wave travels.
Examples: Sound waves

Surface Waves

A surface wave is a combination of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.
Particles of the medium vibrate both up and down and back and forth, moving in a circle.

Parts of a Transverse Wave

Crest: the highest point of a transverse wave.
Trough: the lowest point on a transverse wave.

Units of Measurement

Unit for wavelength: meters (m)
Unit for frequency: Hertz (Hz)

Key Wave Properties

Amplitude: how much energy the wave carries; more energy means higher amplitude.
Wavelength: the distance between a point on a wave and the nearest point just like it.
Frequency: the number of wavelengths that pass a fixed point each second.
Wave speed: wavelength x frequency.

Key Relationships

As frequency increases, wavelength decreases.

Test your knowledge on waves and their properties. Learn about the characteristics of waves, how they transmit energy, the concept of a medium, and the different types of waves such as mechanical waves.