Wave Math

Wave Motion

EQ. Why do waves happen and how do they behave?

EQ. How can we quantify their behavior?

H.P.3F.4 Use mathematical and computational thinking to analyze problems that relate the frequency, period, amplitude, wavelength, velocity, and energy of light.

Multiple Choice

Which wave in the diagram has the greatest frequency?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

The highest point on a wave is:

• the crest
• the trough
• the top
• the coast 

Multiple Choice

What property of this wave is represented by the letter "A"

• amplitude

• crest

• trough

• wavelength

Open Ended

What's your good thing for today? How are you feeling on a scale of 1-10? Anything new going on for you?

Multiple Choice

What is the wave speed if the period of a wave is

4.0 seconds and the wavelength is 1.8 m?

• 0.45 m/s

• 0.90 m/s

• 2.2 m/s

• 3.7 m/s

Multiple Choice

A fisherman noticed that a float makes 30 oscillations

in 15 seconds. The distance between two consecutive

crests in 2.0 m. What is the wave speed?

• 2.0 m/s

• 4.0 m/s

• 7.0 m/s

• 15 m/s

Multiple Choice

What is the wavelength of a wave traveling with a

speed of 6.0 m/s and a period of 3.0 s?

• 2.0 m

• 3.0 m

• 9.0 m

• 18 m

Multiple Choice

What happens to the speed of a wave on a string if the

tension of the string is increased by a factor of nine?

• It is decreased by a factor of 3.

• It is decreased by a factor of 9.

• It is increased by a factor of 3.

• It is increased by a factor of 9.

Multiple Choice

What happens to the speed of a wave on a string if the

mass per unit length of the string is increased by a

factor of nine?

• It is decreased by a factor of 3.

• It is decreased by a factor of 9.

• It is increased by a factor of 3.

• It is increased by a factor of 9.

How waves travel...

• Transverse waves (Up & Down Waves, Perpendicular to medium) are waves that travel in a vacuum or without air or a medium

• Longitudinal waves (Back & Forth Waves, Parallels) are waves that travel through a medium

• - Sound travels through air longitudinally

• - Seismic waves that travel through the ground travel longitudinally

• - Photon or Light waves travel through the vacuum of space transversely

Multiple Choice

Which wave travels parallel in relation to a medium?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal
• Both
• Neither

Multiple Choice

Which wave travels perpendicular in relation to a medium?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal
• Both
• Neither

Multiple Choice

Which wave can only travel using a medium?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal
• Both
• Neither

Multiple Choice

Which wave can travel in both a medium and a vacuum?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal
• Both
• Neither

Multiple Choice

Light is an example of which type of wave?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal
• Both
• Neither

Multiple Choice

Sound is an example of which type of wave?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal
• Both
• Neither

Multiple Choice

How would you describe the movement of a transverse wave?

• Up and down
• Back and forth
• In zigzags
• Linear

Multiple Choice

How would you describe the movement of a longitudinal wave?

• Up and down
• Back and forth
• In zigzags
• Linear