Mechanical Waves and Sound
If the frequency of a tuning fork used in a ripple tank experiment is doubled, how will this affect the observed wavelength of the waves assuming wave speed remains constant?
The observed wavelength will remain unchanged.
The observed wavelength will increase by four times.
The observed wavelength will be halved.
The observed wavelength will double.
If a wave's frequency doubles, what happens to its period?
It halves
It doubles
It quadruples
It remains unchanged
Which type of wave requires a material medium through which to propagate?
Electromagnetic waves.
Probability waves.
Gravitational waves.
Mechanical waves.
If two identical waves traveling in opposite directions meet and form a standing wave, what can be said about the energy of the resulting system?
Energy is doubled due to constructive interference.
Energy is periodically zero when destructive interference occurs.
The total energy is conserved and remains constant within the system.
Energy decreases over time due to wave cancellation.
In applying the principle of superposition to two intersecting waves traveling through a medium, what situation could violate theoretical predictions assuming linear behavior?
Two opposite-phase light wavelength waves causing destructive interference leading to darkness.
Multiple sound waves combining at different frequencies producing beats heard by observers.
Two identical waves perfectly aligned crest-to-trough resulting in constructive interference.
Extremely high amplitude waves creating nonlinear effects within the medium.
What typically happens to the amplitude of a mechanical wave as it propagates through space?
Decreases due to energy dissipation.
It remains constant regardless of conditions.
Alternates between zero and maximum value periodically.
Increases explosively without limits.
What basic measurement unit describes wavelength in physics?
Meter
Hertz
Newton
Joule

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If two pulses of identical shape and size traveling in opposite directions meet, what will result according to the superposition principle?
A larger continuous pulse that travels in the direction of the original pulses.
A larger single pulse is formed momentarily as the two pulses combine and then separate again.
Smaller diminished pulses emerge past the meeting point.
Permanent alteration of shapes and sizes, forming a new, persistent waveform.
In an elastic collision between two objects where one object is at rest, how does the kinetic energy before and after collision compare?
Kinetic energy after collision is greater if one object moves faster than prior velocity.
Total kinetic energy before collision equals total kinetic energy after collision.
Kinetic energy before collision is less than after collision due to momentum transfer.
Kinetic energy cannot be determined unless masses of objects are known.
How do you calculate frequency if you know the period of a wave?
f = T/λ
f =
f = λ/T
f = T^2