Exploring Waves Summary

As a transverse wave travels through a rope from left to right, the parts of the rope

• move along a line from left to right

• oscillate back and forth about a fixed location

• move along a sine-wave like path from left to right

For a transverse wave, the particles of the medium move ______ to the direction that the wave moves.

• perpendicular

• parallel

• diagonal

• in circles

For a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium move ______ to the direction that the wave moves.

• perpendicular

• parallel

• diagonal

• in circles

The frequency of a wave describes _____.

• how fast a point on the wave moves along the medium

• how often particles of the medium oscillate back and forth

• how far particles move away from their normal resting position

The amplitude of a wave describes _____.

• how fast a point on the wave moves along the medium

• how often particles of the medium oscillate back and forth

• how far particles move away from their normal resting position

Increasing the frequency with which particles within a rope vibrate will cause the speed of waves to

• increase

• decrease

• nonsense! Frequency changes do not affect speed

Increasing the amplitude with which particles within a rope vibrate will cause the speed of waves to

• increase

• decrease

• nonsense! Amplitude changes do not affect speed

The wavelength of a wave increases if the ______. Select two answers.

• frequency increases

• frequency decreases

• speed increases

• speed decreases