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 (like air, water, or solids) to travel.

Front

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

Back

Rarefaction refers to the regions in a sound wave where the particles are spread apart, resulting in lower pressure compared to the surrounding areas.

Front

What principle do sonar and echolocation use to detect objects?

Back

Reflection is the bouncing back of sound waves when they hit an object, allowing sonar and echolocation to determine the distance and shape of underwater objects.

Front

What is resonance in the context of sound?

Back

Resonance is the phenomenon that occurs when an object vibrates at its natural frequency due to the influence of external vibrations, leading to an increase in amplitude.

Front

What unit is used to measure frequency?

Back

Hertz (Hz) is the unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second.

Front

What is the difference between compression and rarefaction in sound waves?

Back

Compression is the region in a sound wave where particles are close together, resulting in higher pressure, while rarefaction is where particles are spread apart, resulting in lower pressure.

Front

How does sound travel through different mediums?

Back

Sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases due to the differences in particle density and elasticity.

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 is the relationship between frequency and pitch?

Back

Frequency is directly related to pitch; higher frequencies correspond to higher pitches, while lower frequencies correspond to lower pitches.

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 sound wave, which is related to the loudness of the sound.