Question 1: Define a transverse wave and provide an example commonly observed in everyday life.

Answer: A wave in which particle displacement is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation; an example is light or waves on a string.

Question 2: Explain how particles move in a longitudinal wave and give an example.

Answer: Particles oscillate parallel to the direction of wave travel; an example is sound waves in air.

Question 1: Describe the main difference in particle motion between transverse and longitudinal waves.

Answer: In transverse waves, particles move perpendicular to wave direction; in longitudinal waves, particles move parallel to wave direction.

Question 2: Identify which type of wave can travel through a vacuum and justify your answer.

Answer: Transverse wave

Question 1: A wave travels along a string with a speed of 12 m/s and a frequency of 3 Hz. Calculate the wavelength of the wave.

Answer: Wavelength = wave speed / frequency = 12 m/s / 3 Hz = 4 meters

Question 2: A sound wave with a frequency of 440 Hz has a wavelength of approximately 0.78 meters. Calculate the speed of sound in air based on this data.

Answer: Wave speed = frequency × wavelength = 440 Hz × 0.78 m ≈ 343.2 m/s

Question 1: Describe a simple experiment to demonstrate the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves using a slinky or spring.

Answer: In a transverse wave experiment, move one end of the slinky up and down to create perpendicular disturbances; for longitudinal waves, compress and stretch the slinky along its length to produce parallel oscillations.

Question 2: List two safety precautions to consider when conducting wave experiments involving stretched elastic materials.

Answer: Ensure the elastic material is securely anchored to prevent recoil; avoid overstretching to prevent material snapping or injury.

Question 1: In an experiment, a wave on a string has a frequency of 5 Hz and a wavelength of 2 meters. The wave speed is found to be 10 m/s. Explain whether this data is consistent and justify your answer.

Answer: Yes, because wave speed = frequency × wavelength = 5 Hz × 2 m = 10 m/s, which matches the measured speed.

Question 2: A longitudinal wave is observed to have a particle displacement amplitude of 0.5 mm and a wave speed of 340 m/s. If the frequency is 170 Hz, determine the wavelength and comment on the wave's nature.

Answer: Wavelength = wave speed / frequency = 340 m/s / 170 Hz = 2 meters; the wave is a typical sound wave in air.

Question 1: Explain how understanding the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves is important in the design of medical ultrasound devices.

Answer: Ultrasound uses high-frequency longitudinal waves to penetrate tissues. Knowing wave types helps in designing equipment that produces and detects these waves effectively.

Question 2: Describe a practical scenario in telecommunications where the properties of transverse waves are exploited.

Answer: Optical fibres use transverse electromagnetic waves (light) to transmit data over long distances with minimal loss.