Wave Basics & Vocab
The distance from the rest position to a crest (or trough).
What is amplitude?
In the same medium, increasing amplitude makes wave energy generally…
What is increase?
Name the equation connecting wave speed, frequency, and wavelength.
What is v = fλ? wave speed= frequency x wavelength
A wave has a frequency of 2 Hz and a wavelength of 5 m. What is its speed?
What is 10 m/s?
The distance between two crests (or troughs) in a row.
What is wavelength?
True/False: A higher amplitude wave is “taller,” not “faster” (if medium stays the same).
What is True?
A wave with long wavelengths will have a ___ frequency.
What is low frequency?
A wave travels at 15 m/s and has a wavelength of 3 m. What is the frequency?
What is 5 Hz?
How many waves pass a point each second; unit is Hz.
What is frequency?
If a wave’s amplitude doubles, the energy it carries increases by this amount.
What is four times as much?
Two waves move at the same speed. One has a frequency of 5 Hz and the other 10 Hz.
Which has the shorter wavelength?
What is the 10 Hz wave?
Two waves have the same speed. Wave X has a wavelength of 4 m. Wave Y has a wavelength of 8 m. Which has the higher frequency?
What is Wave X?
The material a wave travels through.
What is a medium?
Wave A has an amplitude of 2 cm. Wave B has an amplitude of 4 cm.
Compare their energies and explain why.
What is Wave B carries more energy because greater amplitude means more energy?
Explain why changing frequency affects how a wave looks, but changing amplitude affects how a wave feels.
What is frequency changes spacing, while amplitude changes energy?
A wave travels at 40 m/s and has a wavelength of 2.5 m. What is the frequency?
What is 14 Hz?
Two waves move through the same medium. One has tall crests and the other has short crests.
What wave property is different, and what does that tell you about the energy?
What is amplitude, and the taller wave has more energy?
A student says, “If two waves have the same frequency, they must carry the same energy.”
Is the student correct? Explain.
What is no, because energy depends on amplitude, not frequency?
Explain why you cannot increase both frequency and wavelength at the same time if wave speed stays constant.
What is because one must decrease when the other increases to keep speed the same?
A wave has an amplitude of 6 cm. Another wave has an amplitude that is twice as large. How much energy is in the second wave compare to the first wave?
What is 4 times as much energy?