Name:______________________

AP Physics
Worksheet – Mechanical Waves Review
1. Match the following terms to their correct definitions

Distance between two crests on a wave.

amplitude _______
A point on a standing wave that is in a perpetual state of destructive interference.

wavelength _______ Time that it takes for an oscillation to occur.

The selective filtering of waves whose particles move in a specific direction.

frequency _______
Waves that travel by causing particles to vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel.
period _______
A wave that is produced by a combination of reflection and interference.
transverse wave _______
A state that is reached by vibrating a medium at its natural frequency.

longitudinal wave _______
mechanical wave _______
medium _______
polarization _______
pulse _______
interference _______
The bending of wave fronts when moving between two mediums of different density or
speed.
Waves that travel by causing particles to oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave
travel.
The height of a wave above equilibrium – relates directly to the energy contained in the
wave.
A continuous collection of particles of the same type.
The number of times that an oscillation repeats in one second – measured in hertz (Hz).
A single vibratory disturbance of a medium.

anti-node _______ An interaction between pulses or waves that meet as they travel toward one another in a
medium.
refraction _______
A wave that requires a medium through which to travel.

diffraction _______ The bending of waves around corners or barriers – understood using Huygen’s Principle.

An apparent change in the frequency of a source of waves due to the motion of the
Doppler Effect _______
source or observer.

resonance _______ A point on a standing wave that experiences maximum displacement.

This occurs when waves encounter boundaries and also when waves pass into new
standing wave _______
mediums.

node _______

reflection _______
2. Match the term to the picture that best describes the phenomenon.

A.

reflection _______

B.
refraction _______

diffraction _______

Doppler Effect _______

standing wave _______

C.
polarization _______

interference _______

D.

E.

F.

G.
3. A swimmer at the beach notices that three wave crests pass a certain point every 10.0 seconds. She also notes that each
wave crest is about 2.0 meters apart.

a. What is the period of the wave that the swimmer is observing?

[3.3 s]

b. What is the frequency of the wave that the swimmer is observing?

[0.3 Hz]

c. What is the speed of the waves that the swimmer is observing?

[0.6 m/s]

4. A submarine trying to detect an enemy destroyer notes that a sonar signal sent through the water returns 0.40 seconds
after it was sent. The frequency of the sonar used by the submarine is 20 kilo-hertz. The speed of sound in sea water is 1.56
x 103 meters per second.

a. How far away is the destroyer?

[66.2 m]

b. The sonar computers receive a reflection from the destroyer at a frequency of 19 kilo-hertz. What useful
information about the motion of the destroyer does this mean the computer can report?

[Explain]

c. Which wave phenomenon does the computer use to make this analysis? ___________________________
 Waves A, B, and C all travel 12.0 meters in 2.0 seconds through the medium shown below.

5. Determine the speed, frequency, period, wavelength, and amplitude of each wave.

Wavelength
Wave Speed (m/s) Freq. (Hz) Period (s) Amplitude (m)
(m)
A
B
C

6. A periodic wave moves through medium A with speed v. The wave passes with all of its energy into medium B. The speed
of the wave in medium B is v/2. Draw at least two complete cycles of the wave once it enters medium B.

7. The diagram below represents a transverse wave A traveling through a uniform medium. On the diagram draw a new wave
with twice the amplitude and half of the frequency of the wave A.
 A periodic wave traveling in a uniform medium has a wavelength of 0.080 meter, an
amplitude of 0.040 meter, and a frequency of 5.0 hertz.

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

9. Determine the speed of the wave.