Transverse & Longitudinal Waves Review

Front

What is a transverse wave?

Back

A wave in which the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.

Front

What is a longitudinal wave?

Back

A wave in which the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave's travel.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

The distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is frequency?

Back

The number of waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Front

What is amplitude?

Back

The maximum distance that the particles of a medium move from their rest position when a wave passes through.

Front

What is compression in a longitudinal wave?

Back

The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together.

Front

What is rarefaction in a longitudinal wave?

Back

The part of a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are spread apart.

Front

How do sound waves travel?

Back

Sound waves travel through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) and cannot travel through a vacuum.

Front

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

Back

As frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa, for a given wave speed.

Front

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

Back

Approximately 343 meters per second (m/s).