Name Date Class

Content Vocabulary LESSON 2

Wave Properties
Directions: Unscramble each term.

queenfryc frequency

dilutepam amplitude

glewnevath wavelength

Directions: On the line before each definition, write the term from above that matches it correctly.

Frequency 1. the number of waves that pass by a point each second

Amplitude 2. the maximum distance the particles in a medium move

from their rest position as the wave passes through the
medium

Wavelength 3. the distance from one point on a wave to the same point
on the next wave
26 Waves
Name Date Class

Content Practice A LESSON 2

Wave Properties
Directions: Label this diagram by writing the letter in front of each term from the word bank on the correct line.
Some terms may not be used, and some may be used more than once.

A. amplitude
B. compression
C. crest
D. rarefaction
E. rest position
F. trough
G. wavelength
Directions: Complete this paragraph by choosing terms from the word bank above and writing them in the
correct spaces. Some terms may not be used, and some may be used more than once.

In a transverse wave, a(n) (7.) wavelength is the distance from one

(8.) crest to the next crest or from one (9.) though

to the next trough. In a longitudinal wave, the (10.) wavelength is the

distance from one (11.) compression to the next compression or from one

(12.) rarefaction to the next rarefaction.

30 Waves
Name Date Class

Math Skills LESSON 2

Use a Simple Equation

The speed of a wave depends on its wavelength and its frequency. This can be shown by the
equation below, where s = wave speed (in m/s), f = frequency (in Hz), and λ = wavelength
(in m).
s = fλ
You can rearrange the equation to solve for either of the other variables. For example:

A sound wave has a frequency of 400 Hz and a wavelength of 0.6 m. What is the speed
of the wave?
Step 1 Identify the given variables.
f = 400 Hz, λ = 0.6 m
Step 2 Identify the equation that is needed to solve for the unknown variable.
s = fλ
Step 3 Substitute the known values to solve the equation.
s = 400 × 0.6
s = 240 m/s

Practice
1. A sound wave has a frequency of 627 Hz 3. A sound wave is traveling at 3,810 m/s
and a wavelength of 3.25 m. What is and has a wavelength of 8 m. What is
the speed of the wave? the frequency of the wave?
1. Given:
Frequency (f) = 627 Hz
Wavelength (λ) = 3.25 m 3. Given:
Speed (s) = fλ Speed (s) = 3,810 m/s
  Substituting the values: Wavelength (λ) = 8 m
s = 627 × 3.25 Frequency (f) can be found by rearranging the equation:
  s ≈ 2,036.75 m/s    f = s/λ
  The speed of the wave is approximately 2,036.75 m/s.    Substituting the values:
   f = 3,810/8
   f ≈ 476.25 Hz

   The frequency of the wave is approximately 476.25 Hz.

2. A sound wave is traveling at 331 m/s

and has a frequency of 126 Hz. What 4. A sound wave is traveling at 6,420 m/s
is the wavelength? and has a frequency of 600 Hz. What is
the wavelength?

Given:
   Speed (s) = 6,420 m/s
Frequency (f) = 600 Hz
Wavelength (λ) can be found by rearranging the equation:
   λ = s/f
   Substituting the values:
  λ = 6,420/600
  λ ≈ 10.7 m
 The wavelength of the wave is approximately 10.7 m.
2. Given:
Speed (s) = 331 m/s
Frequency (f) = 126 Hz
Wavelength (λ) can be found by rearranging the equation:
   λ = s/f
Substituting the values:
  λ = 331/126
λ ≈ 2.63 m
  The wavelength of the wave is approximately 2.63 m.

32 Waves
Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

Wave Properties
Key Concept What are properties of waves?
Directions: On the line before each definition, write the letter of the term that matches it correctly. Each term is
used only once.
1. the maximum distance particles in a medium A. hertz (Hz)
move from their rest position as a wave passes
B. frequency
2. the distance from one point on a wave to the
same point on the next wave C. amplitude
3. the unit for frequency; also the same as 1/s D. wavelength
4. the number of wavelengths that pass by a point
each second
Directions: On each line, write the term from the list above that correctly completes each sentence.

5. The distance from the crest of a wave to the next crest is its .

6. When the of a longitudinal wave increases, the particles in

the medium move closer together and farther apart.

7. The of a wave is the same as the number of vibrations a

vibrating object makes each second.

8. A wave that has a frequency of 4 has four wavelengths that

pass a point every second.
34 Waves