Wave Vocabulary
Word Bank: Write the word that matches the definition on the line.
amplitude, antinode, compression, constructive interference, crest, destructive interference, erect,
frequency, Hertz, inverted, longitudinal, medium, node, periodic, pulse, rarefaction, rest position
(equilibrium), transverse, trough, standing wave, wavelength, velocity, wave
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1. The number of vibrations per unit time.
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2. A stationary wave pattern formed in a medium when two sets of
waves pass through each other in opposite directions; a wave that
seems not to move along the medium
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3. A name for the low part of a wave
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4. “Up side down”
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5. When two waves collide and cancel each other out
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6. Condensed region of the medium through which a longitudinal
wave travels
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7. A single disturbance
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8. The material in which the wave travels
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9. “Right side up”
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10. A wave in which the individual particles move perpendicular to
the direction the wave travels; means “lying across”
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11. The position of the material when there is no disturbance
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12. A name for the high part of a wave
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13. The distance between successive crests, troughs, or identical parts
of the waves
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14. When two waves collide and reinforce each other
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15. A region in a standing wave that has maximum motion back and
forth
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16. Region in which the particles are more spread out in a
longitudinal wave
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17. A wave in which individual particles move parallel to the
direction the wave travels; means “lengthwise”
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18. The maximum displacement of a wave from its rest position
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19. The part in a standing wave that remains at rest position and does
not move
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20. This can be found by distance divided by time or frequency times
wavelength
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21. Unit of frequency, 1 / seconds
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22. A movement that repeats in a regular pattern
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23. Repeated disturbances that transfer energy
Activity 1 Review Questions
1. What happens to the amplitude of a pulse as it travels down the Slinky? Why does this occur?
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2. What happens to a pulse when it reaches a fixed end?
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3. What happens to a pulse when it reaches a free end?
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4. Does the tension in the Slinky affect the speed of a pulse or wave? If so, how?
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5. What happens when two pulses with the same amplitude collide?
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6. What happens when two pulses of opposite amplitudes collide?
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7. How is a standing wave created? How does a standing wave differ from an ordinary transverse wave?
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8. You are creating waves in a rope by shaking your hand back and forth. Without changing the distance
your hand moves, you begin to shake it faster and faster. What happens to the amplitude, wavelength,
frequency, period, and velocity of the wave?
Amplitude: ________________________________________________________________________
Wavelength: _______________________________________________________________________
Frequency: ________________________________________________________________________
Period: ___________________________________________________________________________
Velocity: _________________________________________________________________________
9. A long spring runs across the floor of a room and out the door. A pulse is sent along the spring. After a
few seconds, an inverted pulse returns. Is the spring attached to the wall in the next room or is it lying
loose on the floor?
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10. If you want to increase the wavelength of waves in a rope, should you shake it at a higher or lower
frequency? Explain.
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11. Sketch a single pulse in a Slinky. Label the direction of motion of the Slinky and the direction of motion
of the pulse.
12. Sketch a transverse wave in a Slinky. Label one crest, one trough, the wavelength, the amplitude, and the
rest or equilibrium position.
13. Sketch a longitudinal wave in a Slinky. Label one area of compression and one area of rarefaction.
14. The drawing represents the actual size of the wave. How many wavelengths are present? Measure to find
the amplitude and the wavelength in centimeters.
15. The times in the table below were collected for a 750 cm long slinky. Fill in the remainder of the table.
Time for pulse to
travel from one end
Average time
Speed = length of slinky ÷ average time
to the other (s)
(s)
(cm/s)
1.57
1.72
1.66
16. A student makes 20 shakes on a Slinky in 10.5 seconds. What is the frequency?
The slinky is 450 cm long. The shakes make a standing wave that looks like this:
What is the wavelength?
What is the speed of the wave?
17. For each of the figures below, say how many waves are present and calculate the wavelength.
Which wave has the highest amplitude? ______ The shortest wavelength? ______ The smallest frequency? ______