Name: Forest Hills High School

Physics Date:

Study Guide on Wave Phenomena

The exam will consist of 25 multiple choice questions and 2 free response questions. Here are the topics that will be covered:

1. Particles vs. Waves – (How do waves differ from particles? What do waves transfer? What do particles transfer?)

2. Mechanical Waves vs. Electromagnetic Waves- (How do mechanical waves differ from electromagnetic waves?)

3. Transverse vs. Longitudinal Waves- (Be able to define what a transverse wave is and what a longitudinal wave is. Be able to identify examples of each. Be able to identify how a particle in a medium will move when the wave passes through)

4. Properties of Waves- (Amplitude, Wavelength, Frequency, Period, Speed of a Wave)a) Be able to define amplitude and identify the amplitude of a given wave. Be able to

explain what characteristics of a wave the amplitude correlates to. (Example: The amplitude of a sound wave corresponds to the loudness of the sound)

b) Be able to define what the wavelength is and calculate the wavelength of a given wave.c) Be able to define frequency and explain what properties of a wave correlate to the

frequency. (Example: The frequency of a sound wave corresponds to the pitch).d) Be able to define what the period of a wave means.e) Be able to calculate the frequency and/or period of a wave (T=1/f or f=1/T)f) Be able to calculate the speed of a wave using v=fλ or v=d/t (Note: The speed of a light

wave in a vacuum and the speed of a sound wave at STP are given on the first page of the reference table)

g) Be able to identify which of these wave properties are determined by the wave source and which are determined by the medium

5. Doppler Effect- Be able to explain what the Doppler Effect is and to apply it to given situations in which you must determine how the motion of a wave source or observer will affect the observed frequency

6. Wave Interference- Be able to identify constructive and destructive interference. Be able to find the amplitude of a resultant wave when two waves are interfering.

7. Standing Waves:a) Be able to explain how a standing wave forms.b) Be able to identify the number of nodes and antinodes on a standing wave.c) Be able to identify the type of interference which occurs at a node as well as an

antinode.8. Phase of a Wave

a) Be able to identify points on a wave that are in phaseb) Be able to identify points on a wave that are 180 degrees out of phasec) Be able to identify how the phase angle between two waves affects the amount of

constructive and destructive interference that occurs.

For sample multiple choice questions, see castle learning and also see the review book questions 1-47 on pg 153-155 and questions 48-64 pg 159-161. (We have not covered questions 65-71)

Sample Free Response Questions

1. A periodic wave traveling in a uniform motion has a wavelength of 0.080 meter, an amplitude of 0.040 meter, and a frequency of 5.0 hertz.a) Determine the period of the wave. (Show all work including equation and substitution with

units)

b) On the grid below, starting at point A, sketch a graph of at least one complete cycle of the wave showing its amplitude and period.

c) Calculate the speed of the wave. (Show all work including equation and substitution with units)

2. The diagram below represents a transverse wave, A, traveling through a uniform medium. On the diagram, draw a wave traveling through the same medium as wave A with twice the amplitude and twice the frequency of wave A.

3. A periodic transverse wave has an amplitude of 0.20 meters and a wavelength of 3.0 meters.a) On the grid provided below, draw at least one cycle of this periodic wave.

b) If the frequency of this wave is 12 Hz, calculate the speed of this wave. (Show all work including equation and substitution with units)

4. Two waves, A and B, are traveling in the same direction as shown below.

a) Draw the resultant wave on the grid below.

b) What is the amplitude of the resultant wave?c) What is the wavelength of the resultant wave?