Waves Assignment

1) Calculate the speed of a wave that has a wavelength of 2 m and a frequency of 6 Hz. Be sure
to include units in your answer.
2) A wave has a frequency of 5 Hz and a wave speed of 18 m/s. What is its wavelength? Be
sure to include units in your answer.
3) What is the frequency of a wave that has a speed of 12 cm/s and a wavelength of 3 cm? Be
sure to include units in your answer.

Work + Answers
4) What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?
The relationship between the frequency and wavelength is that if you have a higher frequency,
you will have a shorter wavelength. The frequency will affect the wavelength if it goes higher or
lower.

5) Compare and contrast transverse and longitudinal waves.

Transversal waves are like waves in the ocean, while longitudinal waves are like waves in the
air. In a transversal wave, the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave, while longitudinal
waves is a wave where the motion of the medium is right angled to the direction of the wave.

6) Why can't you cause a floating leaf to move to the edge of a pond by throwing stones behind
it?
You cant cause a floating leaf to move to the edge of the pond by throwing stones are behind it
because it would cause a circular wave rather than a wave that goes back and forth. Plus once
you throw the stone into the pond, it would push away the leaf, but pull it back as well.

7) Explain why supernova explosions in space can be seen but not heard.
You cant hear supernova explosions in space because space is a vacuum and you cant hear
sounds in a vacuum.

8) Compare and contrast mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

Mechanical waves need a medium (a substance) to travel through, while electromagnetic waves
do not need a medium. There are three types of mechanical waves which are sound waves,
water waves, and seismic waves. Electromagnetic waves however, are waves that travel
through the vacuum of outer space.