Wave Motion

The amount of time it takes for one full cycle of a wave to repeat is the ---.

• frequency

• speed

• amplitude

• period

Answer explanation

"Seconds per cycle" is how we think of period, and we measure it in seconds (s).

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in a given amount of time is the ---.

• frequency

• speed

• period

• wavelength

Answer explanation

"Cycles per second" or "repetitions per second" is how we think of frequency, and we measure it in hertz (Hz).

The distance between repetitions in a wave is the ---.

• frequency

• wave speed

• amplitude

• wavelength

Answer explanation

Measuring how much space there is between two of the same point of a repeating wave is wavelength.

What is the amplitude of the wave?

• 2.5 m

• 27 m

• 5 m

• 9 m

Answer explanation

Amplitude is how far up or how far down from equilibrium the wave gets. Equilibrium is halfway between the maximum (9 m) and minimum (4 m) of the wave.

What is the wavelength of the wave?

• 2.8 m

• 27 m

• 5.6 m

• 12 m

Select the best description of amplitude and wavelength of a wave that is tall and far apart.

• high amplitude and long wavelength

• low amplitude and low wavelength

• high amplitude and low wavelength

• low amplitude and high wavelength

What type of wave is this?

• Transverse

• Longitudinal

• Rayleigh

• electromagnetic

Answer explanation

Wave particles moving perpendicular to the direction of the wave travel make a transverse wave

What type of wave is this?

• transverse

• longitudinal

• Rayleigh

• electromagnetic

What is represented by the letter 'x'?

• Crest
• Compression
• Rarefaction
• Wavelength

What part is the arrow pointing to?

• Crest
• Trough
• Amplitude
• Wavelength