Sound Waves

Front

What type of energy does a sound wave have?

Back

Mechanical energy is the energy associated with the motion and position of an object. Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium to travel.

Front

What are areas of increased pressure on a sound wave called?

Back

Compression is the region in a sound wave where the particles are closer together, resulting in increased pressure.

Front

What is the term for the number of wavelengths that pass a fixed point each second?

Back

Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) and indicates how many cycles of a wave occur in one second.

Front

How is sound produced?

Back

Sound is produced by vibrations, which create pressure waves in a medium such as air, water, or solids.

Front

True or False: Sound needs a medium to travel.

Back

True. Sound waves require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate.

Front

What is a rarefaction in a sound wave?

Back

Rarefaction is the region in a sound wave where the particles are spread apart, resulting in lower pressure.

Front

What is amplitude in the context of sound waves?

Back

Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of particles from their rest position in a wave, which relates to the loudness of the sound.

Front

What is the relationship between frequency and pitch?

Back

Higher frequency sound waves produce higher pitch sounds, while lower frequency waves produce lower pitch sounds.

Front

What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature?

Back

The speed of sound in air at room temperature (20°C) is approximately 343 meters per second.

Front

What happens to sound waves as they travel through different mediums?

Back

Sound waves travel at different speeds depending on the medium; they travel fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases.