Applied Science – Physics Practice Questions and Answers

What is frequency? The number of whole cycles occurring in one second Define Oscillation A regularly repeating motion about central value What is the formula for frequency? f = 1/T What is the Period of a wave? The time taken for one whole cycle of an oscillation What is Displacement of a wave? How far the quantity that is in oscillation has moved from its mean (rest) value What is the amplitude of a wave? The maximum value of displacement in the oscillation cycle. Always measured from the mean position Explain a wave Waves transfer energy from one point to another without causing any net movement of material What is wavelength? The distance along the wave in its direction of travel (propagation) between consecutive points where the oscillations are in phase. What is the wave equation? v = fλ What is phase difference? The difference between two waves of the same frequency and wavelength where 360 degrees represents a single whole cycle How do particles behave in a longitudinal wave? The particles are displaced in the same direction that the wave travels How do the particles behave in a transverse wave? In a transverse wave the displacement is at right angles to the direction of the wave travel What are the two parts of a longitudinal wave? Compression (squashed), rarefraction (spread out) What are the 2 types of wave? Longitudinal and transverse What is diffraction? Diffraction is the tendency of a wave to spread out in all directions