Unit 8 Review Questions

Front

What happens to the particles of a medium when a transverse wave passes through it?

Back

Particles move back and forth perpendicular to the wave.

Front

What is diffraction?

Back

Diffraction is the bending of waves as they pass an edge or an opening.

Front

What produces a longitudinal wave?

Back

A compression wave sent through a spring toy.

Front

How is a sound wave created by a stereo speaker classified?

Back

It is a longitudinal wave in which the particles of the wave move in a direction parallel to the wave motion.

Front

Why are radio waves not dangerous like X-rays?

Back

Radio waves have a lower energy than X-rays.

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A wave in which particles move back and forth perpendicular to the direction of the wave.

Front

What is a longitudinal wave?

Back

A wave in which particles move back and forth parallel to the direction of the wave.

Front

What is the difference between compressions and rarefactions in a longitudinal wave?

Back

Compressions are regions where particles are close together, while rarefactions are regions where particles are spread apart.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in wave theory?

Back

When two or more waves overlap, the resulting wave is the sum of the individual waves.

Front

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

Back

Approximately 343 meters per second.