waves
what is a wave
A wave is a repeating movement or vibration that carries energy from one place to another.
what is sound
Sound is a type of energy made by vibrations that travel through a medium like air, water, or solid objects.
what are the two main types of waves
The two main types of waves are mechanical waves (like sound or water waves) and electromagnetic waves (like light or radio waves).
Through which state of matter does sound travel fastest—solid, liquid, or gas?
Sound travels fastest through solids because the particles are packed closely together, allowing vibrations to pass quickly.
What is the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves?
In transverse waves, the particles move up and down, perpendicular to the wave’s direction (like light or water waves).
In longitudinal waves, the particles move back and forth, parallel to the wave’s direction (like sound waves).
What part of the ear helps turn vibrations into signals your brain can understand?
The cochlea in the inner ear changes vibrations into electrical signals that your brain interprets as sound.
How does wave frequency affect energy?
Waves with higher frequency carry more energy. That means gamma rays (high frequency) are more energetic than radio waves (low frequency).
Why can’t sound travel through space?
because space is a vacuum with no particles to vibrate, and sound needs a medium (like air or water) to travel through.
A wave travels at 300 m/s and has a frequency of 150 Hz. What is its wavelength?
Speed = Frequency × Wavelength
So,
Wavelength = Speed ÷ Frequency = 300 m/s ÷ 150 Hz = 2 meters
A sound wave has a frequency of 440 Hz and travels at 343 m/s. What is its wavelength?
Wavelength = Speed ÷ Frequency = 343 m/s ÷ 440 Hz ≈ 0.78 meters