Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
Frequency, Speed, and Wavelength
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
Waves Random Bag
100
In a transverse wave, in what direction do particles move compared with the direction the wave travels?
Perpendicular to the direction the wave travels.
100
A wave has a frequency of 5 Hz and a wavelength of 2 m. What is its speed?
10 m/s.
100
Which type of electromagnetic wave has a longer wavelength: infrared or ultraviolet?
Infrared.
100
Which type of electromagnetic wave is commonly used to take pictures of bones inside the human body?
X-rays.
100
A wave transfers energy from one location to another. Does the wave usually transfer the material itself over the entire distance? Explain.
No; energy travels, while particles generally oscillate around their positions
200
A slinky is pushed and pulled along its length, creating compressions and rarefactions. What type of wave is produced?
Longitudinal wave.
200
A wave travels at 24 m/s with a frequency of 6 Hz. What is its wavelength?
4 m.
200
Put these in order from lowest to highest frequency: X-rays, radio waves, visible light.
Radio waves, visible light, X-rays.
200
Astronomers use the James Webb Telescope to study objects in space. What type of electromagnetic wave does this telescope detect?
Infrared but also some visible light
200
A student makes waves on a rope by moving their hand up and down faster. Which wave property increases?
Frequency.
300
A wave travels horizontally while the particles move vertically. Identify the wave type.
Transverse; particle motion is perpendicular to wave travel
300
A wave's frequency doubles while its speed stays constant. What happens to its wavelength?
Wavelength is cut in half.
300
Which has more energy per photon (a unit of light): a red-light wave or a blue-light wave? Explain using the concept of frequency.
Blue light; it has a higher frequency.
300
Why can ultraviolet radiation damage skin more than visible light can?
Ultraviolet has higher frequency and energy per photon, which can damage cells.
300
An astronaut outside a spacecraft cannot hear another astronaut speaking directly through empty space. Explain why, even though electromagnetic waves can travel through space.
Sound is transmitted through particle interactions; In space, there is essentially nothign there, and so an astronaut cannot hear anything
400
A student claims that sound traveling through air is a transverse wave because it travels forward. Explain the student's mistake.
Sound in air is longitudinal; air particles vibrate parallel to the direction sound travels.
400
Wave A has a frequency of 4 Hz and a wavelength of 3 m. Wave B has a frequency of 6 Hz and a wavelength of 2 m. Which wave travels faster, or are their speeds equal? Explain.
Equal speeds; both are 12 m/s.
400
An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays. Name one possible type of wave this could be
Ultraviolet
400
A doctor wants to treat a tumor using highly focused electromagnetic radiation. Explain what type of radiation the doctor might use and why.
Gamma rays are high-energy and can be used in carefully controlled cancer treatments.
400
Wave A has a higher amplitude than wave B. Explain what this means and which wave carries more energy.
Wave A - higher energy
Amplitude is the maximum distance that a particle or variable moves from its neutral or resting (equilibrium) position
500
Both a sound wave and a wave on a rope transfer energy. Compare the particle motion in these two waves.
Sound particles vibrate parallel to wave travel; rope particles move perpendicular to wave travel.
500
A wave travels at 30 m/s with a wavelength of 5 m. Another wave travels at the same speed but has a wavelength of 3 m. Which wave has the greater frequency, and what is that frequency?
The second wave; 6 Hz for the first and 10 Hz for the second
500
As wavelength decreases across the electromagnetic spectrum, what happens to frequency and photon energy? Explain the relationship.
Frequency and photon energy increase.
500
Two distant stars look similar in visible light, but their spectra differ when studied with infrared and ultraviolet telescopes. Explain why infrared and ultraviolet telescopes are used.
Different wavelengths reveal different temperatures, compositions, and features that may not be visible in visible light.
In addition, the James Webb telescope reveals objects such as stars that are hidden behind clouds.
500
What is the speed of light in meters/second?
600
Which type of wave has compressions and rarefactions.
What are compressions and rarefactions?
Longitudinal.
Compressions are areas where the medium is pressed close together, and Rarefaction is a place where the matter is spread apart.
600
A wave has a frequency of 5 Hz and a wavelength of 4 m. Another wave has twice the frequency and half the wavelength. Compare their speeds. Explain how you know
First wave speed = 5 × 4 = 20 m/s. Second wave frequency is 10 Hz and wavelength is 2 m, so its speed is also 20 m/s.
They both have the same speed
600
A student wants to send a signal across a great distance without using wires. Another student wants to detect the heat given off by a warm object. Which type of electromagnetic wave would be useful for each task, and why?
First student: Radio waves
Second: Infrared waves
600
Astronomers study a cloud of dust in space that blocks most visible light from passing through it. Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum could help them observe what lies behind the dust, and why might it work better than visible light?
Infrared. it is not blocked by clouds
600
What layer of the earth's atmosphere is instrumental in blocking ultraviolet light, helping to shield us from its damaging effects?
The ozone layer