Mechanical Waves

Front

What is a mechanical wave?

Back

A mechanical wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) and transfers energy from one location to another.

Front

What are the two main types of mechanical waves?

Back

The two main types of mechanical waves are longitudinal waves and transverse waves.

Front

Define longitudinal wave.

Back

A longitudinal wave is a type of mechanical wave where the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave's travel.

Front

Define transverse wave.

Back

A transverse wave is a type of mechanical wave where the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel.

Front

What is amplitude in the context of waves?

Back

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of particles from their rest position in a wave.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, such as crest to crest or trough to trough.

Front

What is frequency?

Back

Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in hertz (Hz).

Front

How does sound travel through different media?

Back

Sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases due to the density and elasticity of the medium.

Front

Why can't sound travel in space?

Back

Sound cannot travel in space because there is no matter (medium) for the sound waves to travel through.

Front

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

Back

The relationship is inversely proportional; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases, and vice versa.