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HONORS PHYSICS

Unit 7 – Waves Study Guide

LESSON OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to...

use appropriate metric units for given measurements

describe how waves transfer energy differently from the physical transfer of energy

define the period and frequency of a wave

recognize mass-spring systems and pendulums and simple harmonic systems

recognize properties associated with sound waves such as intensity, wavelength and

frequency

recognize and define properties associated with waves such as interference, refraction

and diffraction

understand that standing waves of certain lengths can exist in a given system

distinguish between mechanical and non-mechanical waves

distinguish between longitudinal and transverse waves

identify musical components of sound, such as pitch and frequency

SKILLS

Students will be able to...

use steps for solving physics problems

relate the period of a simple pendulum to its length

relate the frequency of a wave to the mass and the spring constant

produce and identify the characteristic parts of transverse and longitudinal waves with a

slinky

solve problems involving frequency, wavelength, amplitude and speed of a wave

label the parts transverse and longitudinal waves

model the properties of waves in a sketch that describe interference, refraction, and

diffraction

collect and display data

conduct experiments using harmonic systems and waves

VOCABULARY

simple harmonic motion

wave

medium

mechanical wave

electromagnetic wave

transverse wave

longitudinal wave

crest

trough

amplitude

wavelength

period

frequency

wave speed

Doppler effect

reflection

diffraction

refraction

interference

constructive interference

destructive interference

standing wave

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Lesson 1: Vibrations

#1. Vibrational Motion, reading

#2. Properties of Periodic Motion, reading

#3. Pendulum Motion, reading

#4. Motion of a Mass on a Spring, reading

Lesson 2: The Nature of a Wave

#5. Waves and Wavelike Motion, reading

#6. What is a Wave?, reading and homework

#7. Categories of Waves, reading

Lesson 3: Properties of a Wave

#8. The Anatomy of a Wave, reading and homework

#9. Frequency and Period of a Wave, reading

#10. Energy Transport and the Amplitude of a Wave, reading

#11. The Speed of a Wave, reading and homework

#12. The Wave Equation, reading

Lesson 4: Behavior of Waves

#13. Boundary Behavior, reading and homework

#14. Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction, reading

#15. Interference of Waves, reading and homework

#16. The Doppler Effect, reading

Lesson 5: Standing Waves

#17. Traveling Waves vs. Standing Waves, reading

#18. Formation of Standing Waves, reading

#19. Nodes and Anti-nodes, reading

#20. Harmonics and Patterns, reading and homework

#21. Mathematics of Standing Waves, reading

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CONTENT OUTLINE

I: The Nature of a Wave

A. Vibrations and harmonic motion

1. defining vibration and harmonic motion

2. measuring harmonic motion

a. period

b. frequency

B. Defining a wave

C. Categories of Waves

1. based on motion

a. longitudinal

b. transverse

2. mechanical

3. non mechanical (electromagnetic)

II: Properties of a Wave

A. Parts of a Wave

1. longitudinal

a. compression

b. rarefaction

c. amplitude

d. wavelength

2. transverse

a. crest

b. trough

c. amplitude

d. wavelength

B. Wave Motion and the Wave Equation

1. speed

2. frequency

3. period

III: Behavior of Waves

A. Boundary Behavior

1. reflection

2. diffraction

3. refraction

B. Wave Interaction

1. constructive interference

2. destructive interference

C. Motion (The Doppler Effect)

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Calculations

If the frequency of a wave is 0.125 Hz, how long does it take one wave to pass a given point?

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If a given wave is 4 meters long and has a frequency of 0.1 Hz, what is the speed of the wave?

A particular longitudinal wave has a speed of 340 m/s. If the wavelength is 7 m, what is the

frequency?

Given a speed of 1250 m/s and a frequency of 16 waves per second, what is the wavelength?

If light travels 3 x 108 m/s with a wavelength of 700 nm, the light is violet. What is the frequency of

violet light?

Suppose you tie one end of a rope to a door knob and shake the other end with a frequency of 2

Hz. The wave you create has a wavelength of 3 m. What is the speed of the waves along the

rope?

Ocean wave are hitting a beach at a rate of 2.0 Hz. The distance between wave crests is 12m.

Calculate the speed of the wave.

All electromagnetic waves have the same speed in empty space (3.0 x 108 m/s). Calculate the

wavelength give the following frequencies:

a. radio waves that travel at 660 kHz.

b. X rays at 3.0 x 1018 Hz

c. visible light at 6.0 x 1014 Hz

Microwaves range in wavelength from 1mm to 3 cm. Calculate their range of frequcney.

Remember, all electromagnetic radiation has a speed of ___________________.

What is the frequency of a wave if you tap your finger in a pool of water twice each second?

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If the waves from above travel away from your finger with a speed of 1 m/s, what is their

wavelength?

A musical note A above middle C has a frequency of 440 Hz. If the speed of sound is 350 m/s,

what is the wavelength of this note?

A buoy bobs up and down in the ocean. The waves have a wavelength of 2.5 m, and they pass

the buoy at a speed of 4.0 m/s. What is the frequency and period of the waves?

Waves in a lake are 6 m apart and pass a person on a raft every 2 s. What is the speed of the

wave?

A wave with a frequency of 60.0 Hz travels through vulcanized rubber with a wavelength of 0.90

m. What is the speed of this wave?

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